Allium toksanbaicum N.Friesen & Vesselova, 2021

Friesen, Nikolai, Vesselova, Polina, Osmonaly, Bektemir, Sitpayeva, Gulnara, Luferov, Alexander & Shmakov, Alexander, 2021, Allium toksanbaicum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Southeast Kazakhstan, Phytotaxa 494 (3), pp. 251-267 : 262

Allium toksanbaicum N.Friesen & Vesselova , sp. nov.

Type: — Kazakhstan, Almaty region, southern flank of the Toksanbai mountain range , N 44°33’14”, E 79°37’12.4”, 2880 m, on a scree slope. 22.07.2019. P . Vesselova , K . Osmonaly , N . Friesen , B. Neuffer , H . Hurka (Holotype OSBU 27869 !, isotypes AA!, ALTB!) .

It differs from the closely related Allium obliquum by purple perianth (not yellow), falcate leaves (not oblique), hemispherical and lax inflorescence, rounded bulbs (not oblong ovate) with coriaceous tunics. It differs from A. carolinianum by inner filaments with obtuse teeth at the base (not triangular without teeth), and rounded (not ovoid), bulbs with dirty yellow coriaceous (not brown, leathery) tunics.

Description: —Bulbs clustered, globose, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam., with dirty yellow coriaceous outer and white papery inner tunics. Stem 15–25 cm tall, cylindrical, glabrous, erect, covered by leaf sheaths for 1/5–1/3 of total length. Leaves shorter than scape (2)3–4(5), linear, flat, falcate; leaf blade 12–15 cm long, 10–11 mm wide in the lower part, gradually narrowing to the tip. Spathe persistent, shorter than pedicels, with 1 valve and 2 acute lobes. Inflorescence lax, many flowered, 40–45 mm across, hemispherical, pedicels sub-equal, 9–12 mm long. Perianth campanulate, segments purple, long elliptical, rounded at the apex, 6.5–8 mm long, midrib purple. Stamens for 1/3 longer than tepals (9–11 mm), inner filaments with obtuse teeth at the base; anthers dark purple, oblong, 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary ovoid, with concave nectaries covered by hood like projection at base, white, densely roughish above, style white-purple, exserted, 7 mm long. Seeds and fruits not seen. 2n = 16. Fig. 2 A–D .

Etymology: —The epithet refers to the Toksanbai range.

Distribution: — Kazakhstan, Toksanbai range, South Dzungaria Mountains (currently known from the type locality only).

Ecology: —On the scree slopes in the alpine belt.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Allium toksanbaicum and related species.A–B, plant habit in Toksanbai range (photo by P. Vesselova); C, plant cultivated in South Siberian Botanical Garden, Barnaul (photo by A. Shmakov); D, perianth segment with stamens and ovary with style (drawn by S. Oevermann, Osnabrueck); E, A. petraeum in Dzhungar Alatau, Koksu (photo by N. Friesen); F–G, A. obliquum from Altai and Altynemel (specimens Am874 and Am1095) (photos by N. Friesen); H, A. kirilovii from Kazakhstan (photo by V. Epiktetov); I, A. dshungaricum in Dzungar Alatau (photo by N. Friesen); K, A. carolinianum from Kyrgyzstan (photo by N. Friesen).