Euphorbia serpentini Novák

Caković, Danka, Cresti, Leonardo, Stešević, Danijela, Schönswetter, Peter & Frajman, Božo, 2021, High genetic and morphological diversification of the Euphorbia verrucosa alliance (Euphorbiaceae) in the Balkan and Iberian peninsulas, TAXON 70 (2), pp. 286-307 : 302-303

Euphorbia serpentini Novák

in Acta Bot. Bohem. 3: 35. 1924

– Lectotype (designated here): “Flora serbica No. 226. Serbia occidentalis. Zlatibor: ad declivia lapidosa supra rivi Crni Rzav ripam sinistram apud Gmizovo Čuprija, in serpentinicis, ca 950 m s.m.”, 18 Jul 1923, Dr. Frant. A. Novák 226 (PRC barcode PRC 455795! ).

Description. – Glabrescent to pubescent perennial, 15.5– 26.3 cm tall, with several stems 13.9–24.6 cm high and 1–2 mm thick, arising from a woody stock. Middle stem leaves lanceolate, 17.2–27.2 × 5–11.2 mm, 2.1–5.2 times longer than wide, widest at 0.5–0.6 of the length, with an attenuate basis and an acute apex with the tip angle 45.7– 88.7 Ǫ. Leaf margin serrulate with 0–20 teeth along a 5 mm section just below the tip; the teeth up to 0.14 mm long and 0.18 mm wide at the base. Leaves glabrous or rarely hairy with 0–4 hairs per mm 2 at the upper surface of the distal half of the leaf. Terminal rays 4–6, 4.2–26 mm long, 1 time dichotomous, (0.3) 0.5–2.8(4.9) times longer than ray leaves. Ray leaves elliptic-ovate, 14–21.8 × 7.8–15.5 mm, 1.4–2.5 times longer than wide, widest at 0.5–0.6 of the length, attenuate at the basis with an acute apex with the tip angle 59–109 Ǫ. Raylet leaves elliptic-ovate, 7.2–13.6 × 4.2–10.5 mm, 1.3–2.0 times longer than wide, widest at 0.5–0.6 of the length with a rounded basis and an obtuse, rarely acute apex with the tip angle 130–160 Ǫ. Cyathial involucre campanulate, 2.1–5.1 × 1.3–2.5 mm, 1.3– 2.2 times longer than wide, with transversely elliptic glands 0.4–0.9 × 0.9–2.5 mm, 0.3–0.8 times longer than wide. Capsule subglobose, shallowly trilobate, (2.4)2.5–3.9(4.1) × (2.1)2.3– 4.0(4.1) mm, (0.6)0.7–1.2 times longer than wide, widest at (0.3)0.5–0.6 of the length, with warts (0.6)0.7–1.4(1.5) × 0.1–0.3(0.7) mm, (2.2)2.6–5.5(9.6) times longer than wide, widest at 0–0.6(0.9) of the length. Style 0–0.8 mm long. Seeds ovoid-ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth, greyish, 1.8–2.4 × 1.6– 2.1 mm, 1–1.2 times longer than wide, widest at 0.4–0.5 of the length. Caruncle kidney-shaped, 0.4–0.6 × 0.6–1 mm, 0.6–0.8 times longer than wide and widest at 0.4–0.6 of the length. 2 n = likely 14 (based on RGS data).

Distribution. – Central Balkan Peninsula ( Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia).

Habitat. – Open pine forests, scrubland and rocky grasslands over serpentine from 250 to 1350 m.