Solenopsis limbarae Brullo, Calvia, Cambria, Siracusa, Giusso & Bacchetta, 2024

Brullo, Salvatore, Calvia, Giacomo, Cambria, Salvatore, Siracusa, Giuseppe, Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del & Bacchetta, Gianluigi, 2024, Taxonomical remarks on Solenopsis corsica (Campanulaceae) species complex, with the description of two new species from Sardinia, Phytotaxa 677 (3), pp. 233-250 : 239-241

Solenopsis limbarae Brullo, Calvia, Cambria, Siracusa, Giusso & Bacchetta sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 , 7B ).

Type: — Italy, Sardinia. Monte Limbara. Rio Sa Mela, S’Oltoriu, dall’incrocio con il Rio Pisciarone a Sa Dispensa (Berchidda), affioramenti granitici lungo il torrente, 550–750 m, 40°48’19” N - 9°02’34” E, 6 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (Holotype CAT).

Diagnosis: —This new species is similar to S. corsica in having small size, hairy leaves, corolla colour and size, but it differs in leaf shape, bracteole 1–2, with more numerous hairs, calyx glabrous or hairy, smaller, upper lips of the corolla bigger with different shape, lower lip of the corolla with macula yellow-greenish, covered by dense and smaller papillae, with lobes widely ovate-mucronate, anther tube with basal papillae, capsule smaller.

Description: —Perennial herb, acaulescent, rosulate, (1.5)2–3.5(4.5) cm in diameter, provided with fibrose slender roots, without stolons (very rare tiny bulbs and short stolon have been observed). Leaves 5.5–15.5 mm long, oblanceolate to spathulate, with blade slightly crenate, glabrous or covered by scattered hairs above, 2.5–7.5 × 1–3.5 mm, with petiole 2–9 mm long. Floral pedicels 15–65 mm, with 1–2 bracteoles, denticulate, 2–3 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, with 7–12 hairs, of which 1 apical and 3–6 per side, stipulated glands 1–2 at the base. Calyx 2.4–2.5 mm long, with linear˗lanceolate lobes, 1.5–1.8 mm long, glabrous or hairy. Corolla 4–4.5 mm long, bilabiate, with tube pale lilac, 1.6–1.8 mm long, 1–1.3 mm in diameter; upper lip with 2 lobes ovate˗lanceolate, 1.8–2 mm long, 0.9–1 mm wide, bluish˗lilac, acute at apex, without papillae; lower lip trilobed, 2.3–2.7 mm long, with a small yellow-greenish macula at the base, lobes widely ovate and mucronate at the apex, 1.2–1.5 × 1–1.3 mm, widely edged in bluish˗lilac and irregularly white in the central part until the base, covered by very dense papillae at the throat and base of lobes, 0.08–0.15 mm long. Stamen filaments free, 2 mm long, anthers violet, connate into a tube 0.8 mm long, wholly encapsulating the stigma; the two lower anthers are smaller, with papillae at basis, each appendiculate at the top with a tuft of hairs, closing a narrow fissure; the three upper anthers are curved, glabrous dorsally. Ovary fused with the calyx tube; style whitish, 2.4 mm long; stigma pale lilac, bifid, papillate, with a ring of hairs just under the base. Capsule smooth, 1.9–2.3 mm long. Seeds ellipsoid˗fusiform, brownish shining, 0.36–0.44 × 0.20–0.24 mm.

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to Mt. Limbara (North Sardinia), where this species grows.

Phenology:—It flowers and fruits from (April) May to October.

Distribution and ecology: — Solenopsis limbarae is usually localized ìn rocky stands flooded during winter to early summer, dripping walls, wet rocky crevices, occurring on granitic substrata at an altitude of 330–1,000 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 7B ). It likes semi-shaded or sunny places, mainly localized along watercourses, close to acidophilous holm oak woods, characterized by Quercus ilex Linnaeus (1753: 995) , Erica arborea Linnaeus (1753: 353) , Arbutus unedo Linnaeus (1753: 395) , Fraxinus ornus Linnaeus (1753: 1057) , etc. or riparian woodlands dominated by Alnus glutinosa ( Linnaeus 1753: 983) Gaertner (1790: 54) and Salix atrocinerea Brotero (1804: 31) . In these stands, isolated individuals or small groups of this species grow on bare rock, often covered by a bryophitic carpet. Sometimes, it grows within small bushes of Osmunda regalis , Erica terminalis Salisbury (1796: 296) , Carex panormitana Gussone (1845: 575) , C. microcarpa Bertoloni ex Moris (1827: 48) , Hypericum hircinum subsp. hircinum , etc., as well as in small wet meadows and escarpment together with Spiranthes aestivalis ( Poiret 1798: 567) Richard (1817: 36) , Mentha requieni Bentham (1833: 182) , Solenopsis laurentia C. Presl (1836: 32) subsp. laurentia , Samolus valerandi , Cicendia filiformis ( Linnaeus 1753: 231) Delarbre (1800: 29) , Radiola linoides Roth (1788: 71) , Lysimachia minima ( Linnaeus 1753: 116) U. Manns & Anderberg (2009: 52) , Bellium bellidioides Linnaeus (1771: 285) , Adiantum capillus-veneris . Based on literature, herbarium and field surveys, S. limbarae is circumscribed to several localities of Mt. Limbara and nearby Mounts of Alà (northern Sardinia), where it occurs in few-numbered and scattered populations along the streams which furrow their slopes ( Fig. 3 ).

Specimens examined (Paratypes):— Sardinia: Limbara, Rio Pisciaroni , loc. “Li Pischini di Curadoreddu”, 570 m, 40°51’59” N 9°07’58” E, 18 June 2020, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Tempio ai piedi del Limbara , 4 June 1895, U. Martelli s.n. (FI) ; Tempio, pendici del Limbara , 4 June 1895, U. Martelli s.n. (FI) ; Limbara, Rio lu Frassu ( Tempio Pausania ), rocce granitiche del torrente, poco a valle del Ponticello , 930 m, 40°51’02” N 9°08’05” E, 8 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Columbano ( Tempio Pausania ), affioramenti granitici del torrente, 560 m, 40°51’28’’ N 9°07’21’’ E, 8 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio S’Abba e S’Alinu , in località Sa Sepultura ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici del torrente a monte delle cascatelle, 740 m, 40°49’34’’ N 9°11’01’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; SS 392, dopo il passo Limbara (dir. Oschiri) al km 11,3 ( Tempio Pausania ), paretine umide e ombrose, lungo la strada su suolo granitico, 660 m, 40°50’20’’ N 9°06’03’’ E, 8 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Cantiere Forestale Su Filigosu, Su Rizzolu ( Oschiri ), affioramenti granitici lungo il torrente, 420 m, 40°41’17’’ N 9°11’21’’ E, 10 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Contr. a Manna in loc. Li Sciucchi ( Tempio Pausania ), affioramenti granitici del ruscello, 1000 m, 40°50’28’’ N 9°08’55’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Badde Manna in loc. Sa Frimmatrota , rocce umide del torrente, a valle della cascata, 395 m, 40°48’11’’ N 9°08’38’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Miriacheddu , affioramenti granitici del torrente, 485 m, 40°52’36’’ N 9°14’49’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Canale Arcanzelu ( Berchidda ), fenditure dell’affioramento granitico a monte della cascata, 760 m, 40°51’07’’ N 9°13’22’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Riu ‘e Carracana ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici a valle della cascata, 645 m, 40°50’19’’ N 9°12’06’’ E, 7 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Terramala a Su Pisciale ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici ai piedi della cascata, 405 m, 40°49’30’’ N 9°13’51’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Alinedu, loc. Crabiles ( Berchidda ), affioramenti e rocce granitiche del torrente, 585 m, 40°50’09’’ N 9°12’25’’ E, 7 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Miriacheddu ( Calangianus ), paretine ombrose e umide presso il ponte sul torrente negli anfratti di rocce granitiche, 445 m, 40°52’41’’ N 9°15’19’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Loc. Caldicciosu ( Tempio Pausania ), tra le rocce granitiche del torrente sotto l’ultima cascata, 770 m, 40°51’40’’ N 9°08’25’’ E, 8 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Monti di Alà, Rio Cantares de Uda , a monte di Funtanas, rocce granitiche del torrente, 345 m, 40°43’06’’ N 9°14’37’’ E, 5 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Su Fossu Malu (Alà dei Sardi ), affioramenti granitici a valle delle cascate, 450 m, 40°42’20’’ N 9°15’03’’ E, 5 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Altopiano di Balascia, Sarra Niedda ( Oschiri ), paretine umide sul lato della strada su suolo granitico, 465 m, 40°48’10’’ N 9°02’32’’ E, 8 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Monti di Alà, Rio Badu ‘e Pudda ( Berchidda / Alà dei Sardi ), affioramenti e rocce del torrente su granito, 380 m, 40°42’49’’ N 9°14’25’’ E, 5 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Badde Manna, in loc. Sas Solianas ( Berchidda ), rocce granitiche intorno alla piscina naturale, 650 m, 40°48’59’’ N 9°08’27’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Su Pisciarone ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici presso la cascata, 865 m, 40°49’57’’ N 9°09’42’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio S’Oltòriu ( Berchidda ), 400–770 m, 40°49’30’’ N 9°09’58’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio S’Eritti ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici nella parte alta sopra le cascatelle, 805 m, 40°49’21’’ N 9°09’06’’ E, 2 October 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Sa Mela, S’Oltòriu , in località Badu ‘ G Furru ( Berchidda ), affioramenti granitici del torrente, 700 m ca, 28 August 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, Rio Oltoriu, a Sa Dispensa , affioramento granitico del torrente, 550–600 m ca, 11 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) ; Limbara, S’Ampulla , 870 m, 40°49’16’’ N 9°06’05’’ E 11 July 2022, G. Calvia s.n. (CAT) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Diagnostic features of Solenopsis limbarae. A. Not magnified habit. B. Magnified habit. C. Leaves. D. Bracteoles. E. Bracteole detail. F. Flower. G. Corolla top view. H. Open corollas. I. Open calyx. J. Calyx lateral view. K. Seeds. L. Anthers in lateral view. M. Anthers in ventral view.N. Style and stigma.O. Papillae. P. Capsule. Illustration by S. Brullo based on on living material coming from the type locality (CAT).

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Solenopsis limbarae (red dots) and S. corriasii (green dot) in Sardinia (based on herbarium material).

FIGURE 7. Habit and flower of living plants of Solenopsis corsica from Bastelica (A), S. limbarae from Mt. Limbara (B). S. corriasii from Mt. Limbara (C): 1. Natural habitat. 2. Habit. 3. Flower Material coming from the type localities. Photos by Salvatore Cambria (A) and Giacomo Calvia (B, C).