Limonium contractum Erben & Brullo, 2016

Brullo, Salvatore & Erben, Matthias, 2016, The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece, Phytotaxa 240 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

51. Limonium contractum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 51 )

Type :— GREECE. Dodecanese : Astipalea, Ormos Andreou (scisti), 7 June 1995, Brullo & Minissale s.n., sheet 2 (holotype MSB-164016!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glaucescens, 4–8 cm alta, foliis 10–20 × 4–6 mm, spathulatis, apice rotundatis, rugosis ad verrucosis, 1–nerviis, caulibus pluribus, ramis sterilibus absentibus, spicis 1–3 cm longis, spiculis 6.5–7.0 mm longis, 1–3-floris, ad 3–4 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.1–2.4 × 2.0– 2.3 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 2.2–2.6 × 1.4–1.9 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 5.0–5.3 × 3.9–4.1 mm, obovata, apice rotundata, margine anguste membranaceo, calyce 4.8–5.2 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.2–1.5 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, semi-ellipticis.

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BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 117 Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 4–8 cm tall, with several ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 10–30 mm long, densely branched and densely spirally leafy. Leaves fleshy, rigid, rugose to verrucate, glaucescent, 10–20 mm long and 4–6 mm broad, spathulate, apex rounded, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 30–70 mm long, rugose, glaucous, flexuous, branching begins above the lower third of the stems. Inflorescence narrowly trullate or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent. Fertile branches 15–40 mm long, flexuous, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 30°–40°, unbranched. Spikes 10–30 mm long, flexuous, erect to directed obliquely upwards. Spikelets 6.5–7.0 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, remotely arranged with 3–4 per cm. Outer bract 2.1–2.4 mm long and 2.0– 2.3 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.2–2.6 mm long and 1.4–1.9 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 5.0– 5.3 mm long

118 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN and 3.9–4.1 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin narrowly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.0– 4.2 mm long and 2.2–2.5 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.6–0.7 mm long, ending nearly at the upper margin. Calyx 4.8–5.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.2–1.5 mm, calyx tube with some short to long hairs, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to the island of Astypalaia (Stampalia), where it is very rare ( Fig. 92E ).

Habitat: —Schistose rocky coast.

Etymology: —The epithet “ contractum ” refers to the very reduced, condensed habit of this plant.

Taxonomic remarks: —Due to its small size L. contractum is superficially similar to L. pusillum , from which it differs by having rugose stems and smaller spikelets. The unusual habit of these two species implies that they are closely related to L. palmare .

Specimens examined (Paratype): — GREECE. Dodecanese: Isola Stampalia , 24 June 1912, Vaccari 604 (FI) .

Figures

FIGURE 51. Limonium contractum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Astipalea, Ormos Andreou, Brullo & Minissale s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 92. (Map 7) Geographical distribution of Limonium calliopsium (A); L. carpathum (B); L. chersonesum (C); L. chrisianum (D); L. contractum (E); L. cornarianum (F); L. hierapetrae (G); L. sougiae (H).