Limonium sartorianum Erben & Brullo, 2016

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

47. Limonium sartorianum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 47 )

Type :— GREECE. Cyclades : Andros, Kalamaki, Akr. Thiari, 30 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (holotype MSB-164027!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, griseo-viridis, 20–40 cm alta, foliis 15–45 × 6–13 mm, spathulatis, submucronatis, laevibus, supra punctatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, laevibus ad rugosis, ramis sterilibus paucis, 1–4 per caulem, spicis 2–10 cm longis, spiculis 7.5–9.0 mm longis, 2–6-floris, ad 1–6 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.5–3.0 × 2.6–3.0 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice acuta, bractea media 2.8–3.1 × 2.1–2.5 mm, elliptica ad obovato-elliptica, bractea superiore 6.0–6.8 × 4.5–5.0 mm, obovata, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 5.2–6.4 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.5–2.0 mm exserto, tubo sparse piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.4 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis ad triangulari-ovatis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 20–40 cm tall, with few ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 2–10 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper two thirds. Leaves fleshy, grey-green, flat, smooth, upper side dotted, 15–45 mm long and 6–13 mm broad, spathulate, apex obtuse to rounded, slightly mucronate, normally with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 15–35 cm long, slightly flexuous, smooth to rugose, branching often begins near the base of the stems. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches few, 1–4 per stem, 1–4 cm long, straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 3–10 cm long, slightly arched to straight, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 35°–60°, unbranched or loosely branched. Spikes 20–100 mm long, straight to arched, erect or directed obliquely upwards; axis of the spike sometimes with crateriform glands. Spikelets more or less thick, 7.5–9.0 mm long, composed of 2–6 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1–6 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.5–3.0 mm long and 2.6–3.0 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 2.8–3.1 mm long and 2.1–2.5 mm broad, elliptic to obovate-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 6.0– 6.8 mm long and 4.5–5.0 mm broad, obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 4.8–5.2 mm long and 2.9–3.2 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 0.5–0.8 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 5.2–6.4 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.5–2.0 mm; calyx tube more or less sparsely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending at the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.4 × 0.8 mm, broadly semi-elliptic to triangular-ovate. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Andros, an island of northen Cyclades, where it is quite rare ( Fig. 94B ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: —This species is dedicated to Sartori Joseph (1809–1880), an important collector of Greek plants.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. sartorianum has a habit very similar to L. sieberi , from which it differs by having smooth, dotted leaves, as well as broader inner bracts.

Specimens examined (Paratype): — GREECE. Cyclades: Ins. Andros, Kastro ad Portum, s.d., Sartori 79 (WU); Andros , Ormos , Akr. Grias Pidima (versante Sud), 30 August 2002, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n. (CAT, Herb. Erben) .

110 • Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press

BRULLO & ERBEN LIMONIUM (PLUMBAGINACEAE)

Phytotaxa 240 (1) © 2016 Magnolia Press • 111

Figures

FIGURE 47 Limonium sartorianum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Andros, Akr. Thiari, Brullo & Sciandrello s.n, MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 94. (Map 9) Geographical distribution of Limonium pigadiense (A); L. sartorianum (B); L. schinousae (C); L. sieberi (D); L. sirinicum (E); L. sitiacum (F); L. narbonense (G).