Taraxacum olympophilum Sonck (1993: 207)

Štěpánek, Jan & Kirschner, Jan, 2022, Taraxacum sect. Erythrocarpa in Europe in the Alps and eastwards: A revision of a precursor group of relicts, Phytotaxa 536 (1), pp. 7-52 : 43-45

14. Taraxacum olympophilum Sonck (1993: 207) .

Type:— GREECE. Botanical excursion to Greek mountains led by A. Strid et P. Uotila on July 3-17, 1985. Nom. Pierias, Ep. Pierias, Mt. Olympos, ca. 2600 m, just around the mountain hut Refuge C, abundantly, 13 Jul 1985, Vanamo Salo & Marjatta Salmenkallio VS 1156b ( H 1704281 , no. det. 25642, holotype; isotype: H 1557699 , no. det. 25643, as VS 1156)

Note 1:—Achenes of the holotype or isotype were cultivated by C. E. Sonck in Helsinki , and collected in 1987 (see below).

= Taraxacum voricola A.J.Richards in Štěpánek & al. (2010: 66).

≡ Taraxacum albomarginatum A.J. Richards (1991: 567) , nom. illeg.

Type:— GREECE. Nom. Florinis / Pellis , Mt. Kajmakčalan, summit area, 2500 m, meadows and rocky places, micaceous schist, 22 Jul 1985, A. Strid 24842 (herb. A. Strid / C, holotype, photo vid.!)

Note 2:—We studied the complete material of T. olympophilum and compared it with a photographic documentation of the type of T. voricola , and a fruiting head and several separate achenes of the type gathering of T. voricola , kindly provided by Prof. A. Strid. On the basis of this comparison we conclude that these two names are synonyms. The type herbarium sheet of T. voricola consists of a bigger, fruiting plant, designated as “ holotype ” by A. J. Richards on the herbarium sheet, and four isotypes, one of them flowering, the other just after anthesis. The leaf and outer phyllary characters of the type plants point to T. olympophilum , achenes studied by us belong to T. olympophilum as they have ± erect spinules and squamules. Richards (1991: 568) says that “more collections of the Olimbos plants ... are needed to see if it can be included under T. albomarginatum . The latter species, as well as the Olimbos plant, appear to be agamospermous.” This is a strong argument in favour of the above synonymization, because the similar T. pindicola (see below) is a sexual taxon; in the type material of T. voricola at our disposal, the seed set is perfect, which also supports agamospermy as the reproduction type. It is possible, however, that both T. olympophilum and T. pindicola co-occur on the type sheet of T. voricola , as they co-occur at the Kajmakčalan locality.

Exsiccates:— Taraxaca Exs., no. 1292.

Plants small but not slender, usually 6–10 (–12) cm tall. Plant base with tunic, with a brownish white arachnoid indumentum among petiole bases. Leaves erect-patent, usually deep green to deep greyish green, arachnoid mainly on mid-vein adaxially, later ± glabrescent, narrowly oblong to ± oblanceolate in outline, usually 5–8 cm long, 1–1.6 (–2.0) cm wide, pinnatisect; terminal segment triangular to trilobed, most often 5–9 mm long, 8–16 mm wide, distal margin straight to concave, entire, basal lobules patent to subrecurved, often ± abruptly narrowed from a broad base into a narrowly triangular to lingulate distal part, proximal margin usually ± straight, entire; lateral segments most often 4–5, usually narrowly triangular and subrecurved, sometimes from a broad base ± abruptly narrowed into an acuminate apex, sometimes bird-wing-like, usually 6–10 mm long, 2–5 mm wide at base, distal margin convex or concave (when segment abruptly narrowed), usually entire, sometimes with 1–2 little teeth, proximal margin straight to ± concave, usually entire; interlobes distinct, narrow, usually 2–8 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, rarely entire, usually irregularly dentate, green or narrowly and indistinctly bordered brown-purple; mid-vein green or purplish; petiole narrow, or at most narrowly winged, green or purplish. Scapes ± densely arachnoid, often suffused bronze, equalling or ± overtopping leaves. Capitulum to ca. 2.5–3 cm wide at full anthesis, yellow, ± convex. Involucre olivaceousgreen, not pruinose, (6–) 8–10mm wide and broadly rounded at base. Outer phyllaries usually (9) 12–18, appressed or loosely appressed, ± imbricate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, usually 5–6.5 (–8.5) mm long, the longest are the innermost ones, (2–) 2.5–3.0 (–3.5) mm wide, with a dark olivaceous-green (distally darker) middle part (1.0–) 1.5 (–2.0) mm wide, with a subabrupt transition to a paler (whitish green or light green) border 0.5–1.0 mm wide and a membranous outer border ca. 0.1–0.2 mm wide, margin densely ciliate, distally suffused pink, apex minutely corniculate or almost flat; inner phyllaries 11–13 mm long, not variable in width, later elongating, dark olivaceous-green, apex flat. Outer ligules ± flat, narrow, striped dark, blackish purple outside, apical teeth blackish purple, inner ligule teeth ± purple. Stigmas light discoloured, greenish yellow. Pollen present, pollen grains irregular in size. Achenes red-brown, 3.8–4.4 mm long, 0.8–1.0 mm wide, body densely covered with erect to erect-patent spinules in upper 1/3–1/2, the uppermost spinules usually overlap the cone base, body ± gradually narrowing into a subcylindrical cone 0.5–0.7 (–0.8) mm long; beak 8–10 (–11) mm long; pappus yellowish white, 5.5–6 mm long.—Agamosperm.— Fig. 23

Diagnostic notes:—From the material used, it is obvious that T. olympophilum is a plastic species, with striking differences between the wild plants and the cultivated material. This should be born in mind in all comparisons. Taraxacum olympophilum is in many respects very similar to some forms of the variable T. pindicola . When T. pindicola is in full flower (to ascertain the regular pollen), in a form with broadly winged petioles and large, not numerous outer phyllaries, telling these two taxa apart is relatively simple. However, the forms of T. pindicola with deeply pinnatisect leaves, with ± remote pairs of lateral segments, and outer phyllaries broadly and conspicuously bordered, are extremely close to T. olympophilum . There is a difference in the number of outer phyllaries, the width of involucre at base, and in the achene spinulosity and cone shape and length. In its outer phyllaries, T. olympophilum is relatively close to T. calocephalum . The latter usually has a majority of outer phyllaries erect to erect-patent, a broader involucre, darker discoloured stigmas, and substantially longer achenes with a long cone.

Distribution and ecology: — Known from North Macedonia and Greece but further exploration is needed ( Fig. 4 ). It grows on mountain pastures, mountain rocky and gravelly slopes. Its IUCN conservation status is estimated as NT.

Specimens examined:— NORTH MACEDONIA: Jablonica Mts., Ohridsko Jezero lake, pastures, granite, 1600– 1800 m, 1989, D. Fišerová & R. Bělohlávková, cultivated as JŠ 4023 ( PRA, no. det. 25652), ibidem: cultivated as JŠ 4737 ( PRA, no. det. 25653).— Nidže Mts. , summit area of Mt. Kajmakčalan , ca. 1800 m, 1989, R. Bělohlávková & D. Fišerová, cultivated as JŠ 4029/1, 2, 2x3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 2x0 ( PRA, no. det. 33116), ibidem: cultivated as JŠ 4742 ( PRA, no. det. 33121), ibidem: cultivated as JŠ 4743 ( PRA, no. det. 33118) .— GREECE: Thessalia, Mt. Olympus, Pierias, Refuge A, near the mountain hut, 2100 m, 11 Jul 1985, V. Salo 1156, cultivated in Helsinki by C. E. Sonck ( H, no. det. 25644), ibidem: 11 Jul 1985, P. Uotila, cultivated in Helsinki by C. E. Sonck ( PRA, no. det. 25650, 25651), ibidem: P. Uotila & V. Salo, cultivated in Helsinki by C. E. Sonck ( H, no. det. 25647).—Nom. Pierias, Ep. Pierias, Mt. Olympos , ca. 2600 m, just around the mountain hut Refuge C, abundant, 13 Jul 1985, V. Salo 1157 & M. Salmenkallio ( H, no. det. 25645), ibidem: V. Salo 1159 & M. Salmenkallio ( H, no. det. 25646).—Ioannina, region of Timfi, Gamila, 2522 m, 16 Jul 2010, T. Gregor 6362 ( FR, no. det. 23774) .

Less certain identification:— GREECE: Nom. Ioanninon, Ep. Konitsis, 1.5 km W of Distrato , by bifurcation to Samarina, rocky slopes and screes in open Pinus nigra woodland, serpentine, 40.02° N, 21.00° E, 23 May 1999, A. Strid et al. (herb. A. Strid 48197/C, no. det. 15044).— Nom. Pierias, Ep. Pierias, Mt. Olympos, meadow on very gentle slope near snow, about 400 m E of Refuge C, 2600 m, 13 Jul 1985, V. Salo 1153 & M. Salmenkallio (H, no. det. 25648).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Distribution of species of T. sect. Erythrocarpa. Taraxacum fastuosum (squares), T. adamovicii (star), T. olympophilum (green/dark circles), T. pieninicum (yellow/light circles).

FIGURE 23. Taraxacum olympophilum. Achenes (PRA, no. det. 33116).