Lappula botschantzevii Ovczinnikova, 2021

Ovczinnikova, Svetlana, 2021, A new species Lappula botschantzevii (Boraginaceae) from the Northern Africa, Phytotaxa 522 (1), pp. 47-55 : 48-53

Lappula botschantzevii Ovczinnikova , sp. nov.

Type: — AFRICA. Algeria, Chellala (Reibell) city area, Djebel Chemeur mountains 30 km west of the city, fine earthy-gravelly slope, 5 May 1965. V.P. Botschantzev 1872 (Holotype: LE 01039487!). ( Fig. 1 ) .

Diagnosis: —The new species differs from the closely related species L. patula in the presence of an inflorescence of a rather short scorpioid inflorescence (bilateral flowers) with loosely spaced flowers (rather than long a helicoid inflorescence with one-sided, densely spaced flowers); the presence of a heteromorphic coenobium with two types of eremocarps (vs. homomorphic): A) with wings beset with glochids (type not present in L. patula ) and B) not winged but with a large number of spines along the edges of the disc and the presence of a second short row of spines (vs. eremocarps with single-row spines spaced apart); and a smaller corolla ( Fig. 2 ).

Herbs annual. Stems erect or ascending, frequently branched from base or above middle, 4–10(15) cm tall, with thin, rigid, half-appressed white pubescent. Leaves linear-lanceolate 1.3–2 (3) cm long, 3–4 mm wide, green, dispersed pubescent with semi-flattened thin hairs mixed with tougher ones, sitting on tubercles. Inflorescences elongated in fruit to 8–11 cm long, bilateral, with bracts near 8 mm long. Pedicels short, near 1 mm long. Calyx lobes linear erect at anthesis, 2.2–2.5 mm long, spreading in fruit, elongate up to 4.5 mm long. Corolla blue, shallow 2.5–2.7 mm long, with a bell-shaped limb 0.9–1.0 mm long. Appendages blue, trapeziform, 0.3 mm high, anthers dark brown 0.3 mm long, apex with a little prominent connective. Coenobium with glochids 6–8 mm in diameter, heteromorphic with two types of eremocarps. Gynobase subulate, with a style equal to the length of the eremocarps. Eremocarps are easily separated from gynobase, brown, narrow lanceolate, 2.5–2.7 mm long, 1.2–1.5 mm wide. Spinal disc at part of eremocarps aculeate-tuberculate, with higher tubercles along the keel. The edge of the disc is bordered by wide 11–13 long glochids with an open cavity of 2.3–2.5 mm long, spreading horizontally and widened at base. In the winged (pterygoid) eremocarps, the surface of the wing is outside covered with small star spines, flanks 3.2–3.4 mm high, ending up with swollen glochids. From the inside the wing is smooth. Disc and all flanks of the eremocarps are aculeate-tuberculated, under the wing with several short thin glochids 0.6–0.9 (1.8) mm long. Cicatrix narrow lanceolate, turning into the keel, convex, located in the center of the ventral side of eremocarp. Pollen grains dumbbell shaped, 3-colporate apertures alternate with three pseudocolpi, with equatorial constriction, polar axis 10.6–12.57 µm, equatorial diameter 4.6–5.8 µm, three colpi 9.1–11.3 µm in length, each with two orae 1.37–1.94 µm in diameter, located symmetrically in two halves of the grain. The orae are well developed with a granulate surface of exine. Pseudocolpi are shorter, 7.5–10 μm long. The exine surface of the pollen grain is psilate.

Additional specimens examined (paratypes): AFRICA. ALGERIA. Chellala (Reibell) area , env. sat down Taguine, wormwood desert 20 km south of the village, fine earth depression, 26 April 1965, V.P. Botschantzev 1643 (LE!); Area of the city of Chellala (Reibell), upper reaches of the Oued Touil near the Djebel-el-Harcha mountains ,

overgrown sands, 26 April 1965, V.P. Botschantzev 1668a (LE!); Area of the city of Chellala (Reibell), between the mountains of Djebel-el-Harcha and villages Taguine, right bank of Oueda Touil, overgrown sands, 26 April 1965, V.P. Botschantzev 1737b (LE!); Algeria, 1965, V.P. Botschantzev 913а (LE!); Vallee au dessus de Sidi-Khalifa (Oud Falet) aboutissant au Chott-el-Chergui (Algerie), 27 May 1852, E. Cosson. in Herb. Munby s.n. (LE!, P 03878209, right; P 03878211, P 03878271); env. Chott-el-Chergui entre Sidi-Khalifa et Khrider ( Algerie), 29 May 1852. E. Cosson. in Herb. Munby s.n. (P 03878209, left); In oropediis Algeriae occidentalis: prope Taerziza, 1100 m, 23 May 1933, R. Maire s.n. (P 03878267); depressions argiloso-sablonneuses a Ogla Nadja dans le Chott el Rarbi, sud-ouest de la prov. D’Oran, 25 April 1856, J.-L. Kralik in E. Bourgeau Pl. D’Algerie s.n. (P 03878268, plant in centre is Hackelia ); Au Safissifa sud de la province D’Oran, 5 May 1856, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878269); Coteaux arides a Saider, 25 May 1852, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878270); Plaine de Melila , province de Constantine, 17 May 1853, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878270); Asla, sud de la province D’Oran, 13 May 1856, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878270); in the same place, 27 April and 3 May 1856. E. Cosson (P 03878277); Guerrera (Mzab), 20 May 1858, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878274); Guerrera (Mzab), 25 May 1858, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878280); Merazein aux environs d’aumale (Algerie), 15 April 1860. A. Charoy 790 (P 03878277); Coteaux arides a Saider, 22 May 1852, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878277); Gjebel Senalba, environs de Djelfa, prov. D’Alger, June 1854, V. Reboud s.n. (P 03878279); Sud Oran, 13, 16, 25 April 1888, E. Bonnet & P. Maury s.n. (P 03847152, P 03878212, P 03878275, P 03878276); Sahara, 24, 27 and 29 April 1899, L. Chevallier s.n. (P 03878252, P 03878272, P 03878273, P 03878279); Saint-Donat, station du chemin de fer entre Constantine et Setip, 15 June 1880, E. Cosson s.n. (P 03878278, P 03878280); Chergui, 18 May 1939, A. Dubuis (MPU 034520); Atlantii Saharici, 20 April 1936. R. Maire s.n. (MPU 034521); Bou-Saada, April 1882, L. Trabut s.n. (MPU 034524); Ain-Sefra, April 1906, J.A. Battandier s.n. (MPU 034525); 6 June 1910, H. Weiller 121.10 (MPU 375578); April 1934, H. Weiller 79.34 (MPU 375579). TUNISIA. In [...] Oued Zitouna, 21 June 1884, M. Letourneux s.n. (P 03878205, P 03878256); Khanguut Douara in Ouelad Selama , 9 May 1887, M. Letourneux s.n. (P 03878255), In planitiebus excelsis entre Khanguet Douara et Seriana, 10 May 1887, M. Letourneux s.n. (P 03878206, P 03878255). MOROCCO. Hautes plateaux marocains a l’oued ban Rumade, 20 April 1866, A. Warian (P 03878274); El Ardja, in arenosis deserti, March 1913, C.J. Pitard 3621 (P 03878260, P 03878261); ibid., April 1913, C.J. Pitard 3620 (P 03878265, P 03878266); Entre la Sebkha Tigri et Ain-Chair, Maroc, Expedition del’Oued Guir, April 1870, Seignette s.n. (P 03878262); Grand Atlas, Midelt: Ari-bouhou, 21 April 1920. Naus (MPU 034522); Oppidum Midelt, 20 April 1933, R. Maire & E. Wilczek (MPU 034526) .

Additional specimens examined (other species):— Lappula patula (Lehm.) Menyharth (1887:120) . ≡ Echinospermum patulum Lehm. Pl. Asper. 2: 124 (1818). – Neotype (Ovczinnikova, designated here): From the Wolga [“ Myosotis squarrosa ” Fl. Taur–Cauc. vol. 1. 306] (LINN-HS253-29 http://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/ al.ap.specimen.linn-hs253-29). Lappula capensis (DC.) Gürke (1893: 107) ≡ Echinospermum capense DC. 1846 , Prodr. 10: 138, excl. var. suffrutescens DC. – Lectotype (Ovczinnikova, designated here): SOUTH AFRICA. Cape, [Griqualand West: Asbestos Mts. At the kloof Village Griqualand West (Hay Div.). 28 September 1811]. W.J. Burchell 1669 (G 00205086; isolectotypes: K 000418887, LE!); syntype: Loc. nat. incert. 1838. J.F. Drège 9356 b (G 00205194). Lappula eckloniana Lehm. ex Brand, 1922 , Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 18: 312. – Lectotype (Ovczinnikova, designated here): SOUTH AFRICA. Cape, s. lat. 94.12 [Georg, Karroo in der Gegend von Gouritzriver, 1000–3000 feet, December], C.L.P. Zeyher 46 (S 12-5534; isolectotypes: S 12-5525, HBG-502965, HAL 0115131, PRE 0140013- 0, LE-2!).

Etymology: —The epitet honours the Russian botanist Viktor Petrovich Botschantzev, who spent many years studying the flora of Africa and who collected samples of the new species.

Phenology: —Flowers appear at the end of April and at the beginning of May, with fruits appearing from the beginning to the end of May.

Distribution and habitat: — Lappula botschantzevii is known from north-western Africa and occurs in northern Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco on gravelly areas and sands in the desert zone, in the intermontane basins of Djebel-el- Harcha and Chott-el-Chergui.

Botschantzev described the study area in sufficient detail ( Botschantzev 1966, Botschantzev et al. 1970). The Tell Atlas mountain range stretches along the Mediterranean coast of Algeria, followed inland by another mountain range—the Sahara Atlas. The space between them is called the High Plateaus, and the Sahara extends to the south of the Sahara Atlas. The objects of research were some parts of the High Plateau and northern Sahara. The high plateaus is a plain crossed by the wadis with small mountain ranges, salt lakes and salt marshes scattered across it. The plateau has an altitude of 600–1100 m above sea level. Northern Sahara has a flat character. Its absolute elevations are in the range from 30 to 750 m above sea level. The surface of the desert is sandy, clayey, stony, sandy-pebble, crossed by wadis. Wadis are shallow, far-apart channels with gentle banks or narrow deep gorges that cut through the rocky desert in a dense network. The vegetation of these regions belongs to low-mountain and flat deserts. It should be noted that in Algeria vast areas are occupied by outcrops of tertiary variegated rocks. These are red sandstones, multi-colored clays and gypsum. Botschantzev notes that at the outcrops of variegated Tertiary rocks, in vast areas from the Atlantic Ocean to Central Asia, the richest flora of Ancient Middle-earth has developed and continues to develop, the genesis of which was devoted to the works of M.G. Popov (1983).

Discussion: — Lappula patula was described by Lehmann (1818) from the Caucasus and the Lower Volga (“Hab. in deserto Caucasico-Caspico ad Kumam et Terek nec non ad Wolgam inferiorem circa Sareptanam coloniam et urbem Astrachan”). The species occupies a vast area, its is distributed in Europe, Southwest and Southeast Asia, Central Asia (broadly): Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Siberia, Mongolia, China ( Riedl 1967, Kazmi 1971, Popov 1974, Abdullaeva et al. 1986, Sadat 1989, Zhu Ge-ling et al. 1995, Gubanov 1996, Ovczinnikova 1997, 2005b, 2009a, 2019). Lappula patula belongs to section Lappula , series Patulae Ovczinnikova together with species L. capensis and L. eckloniana from South Africa. The species are found on clay and sandy loam soil, on pebbles along river valleys, in fields, fallow lands, near dwellings. The species are especially characterized by eremocarps with one row of long glochids, not widened at the base, spaced apart from each other and bent outward from the disc, spiky over the entire surface ( Fig. 2 G–I ), less often with smooth sides; the corolla is very small (with a limb of 2 mm in diameter), with poorly developed arches; long, tough shoots with one-sided and often spread fruits on very short (1 mm) pedicels ( Ovczinnikova 2005a). Pollen grains of Lappula patula are dumb-bell-shaped, 3-colporate apertures alternate with three pseudocolpi, with a noticeable equatorial constriction, with three colpi, each with one ora, located in different halves of the grain ( Avetisjan 1956, Diez & Valdés 1991). As my research has shown, Lappula botschantzevii is characterized by the presence of an inflorescence with short bilateral coils with loosely spaced flowers, the presence of heteromorphic coenobium with two types of eremocarps: with glochids and with wing, a large number of spines along the edges of the disc of eremocarps and the presence of a second short row of spines, smaller corolla. Pollen grains of new species are dumb-bell-shaped, 3-colporate apertures alternate with three pseudocolpi, with slightly equatorial constriction, with three colpi with six oraes, located symmetrically in two halves of the grain ( Fig. 2 A–F, J–N , fig. 3 A).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Lappula botschantzevii (LE 01039487).

FIGURE 2. Organography of Lappula botschantzevii and L. patula. A–F, J–N, L. botschantzevii (Botschantzev 913а, LE), G–I, L. patula (26 June 1929. Gross, NSK). A, coenobium with glochidiate eremocarps; B, subulate gynobase and eremocarp with wing; C, heteromorphic coenobium with different eremocarps; D, eremocarp with wing, view from the cicatrix; E, eremocarp with glochids, view from the side surface; F, pericarp ornamentation; J, shape and pubescence of leaf blade; K, pericarp ornamentation of spinal disc and open glochid; L, pericarp ornamentation of wing; M, view from the equatorial of pollen grain (colpi with 2 oraes, located symmetrically with granulate surface of exine); N, view from the pole of pollen grain; G, coenobium; H, eremocarp, view from the side surface; I, pericarp ornamentation.