Limonium cazzae Bogdanović & Brullo, 2015

Bogdanović, Sandro & Brullo, Salvatore, 2015, Taxonomic revision of the Limonium cancellatum group (Plumbaginaceae) in Croatia, Phytotaxa 215 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

4. Limonium cazzae Bogdanović & Brullo , sp. nov.

Type: — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Isola di Sušac, Dalmazia, 29 July 2006, Bogdanović s.n. (holotype CAT!; isotypes CAT!, ZAGR!) ( Figs. 5 , 34 ) .

Diagnosis: — Planta pubescens , dense foliosa apice caudicularum, foliis spathulatis, 1–3-nerviis, scapis erectis vel adscendentibus, ramis sterilibus numerosis, inflorescentia reticulata, ramosa, spicis rectis ad curvatis, bractea inferiore ovato-triangulari, apiculata, bractea superiore oblongo-ovata, obtusa, calice tubo dense piloso, lobis triangulari-ovatis, acutis.

Description: —Plant perennial, 14–35 cm tall, velvety with hairs 0.1–0.25 mm long, with robust tap-root. Caudices branched, 1–3 cm long, densely covered by leaves. Leaves rigid, rugose, velvety, green, 7–55 mm long, 2–10 mm wide, spathulate, retuse, revolute at the margin, 1–3-nerved, sometimes with 2 secondary nerves, gradually tapering into a long petiole. Stems numerous, robust, erect to ascending, rugose, with numerous sterile branches, flexuous, fragile at nodes, very branched, diverging at the angle of 90–180°, internodes 5–16 mm long, right to curved. Inflorescence reticulate, branched from the base; spikes 1–5(–8) cm long, straight to curved. Spikelets 5.5–6 mm long, 1–3 flowered, 3–4 per cm; outer bract 1.5–1.8 mm long, 1.3–1.6 mm wide, ovate-triangular, apiculate, totally hairy, with margin narrowly membranous, central part fleshy, acuminate; middle bract 1.6–1.9 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, oblong, bifid at the apex, membranous, hairy at the base and in the veins; inner bract 3.5–3.7 mm long, 1.8–2 mm wide, oblong-ovate, obtuse, margin membranous, glabrous, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, and central part fleshy, densely hairy, 1.4–1.6 mm wide, apiculate, forming a triangular tip, 0.6–0.8 mm long, reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.5–4.7 mm long, exserted 2.6–3 mm from the inner bract, densely hairy, with 5 totally hairy ribs, reaching almost the middle part of the lobes; calyx lobes 0.8–0.9 × 0.8–0.9 mm, triangular-ovate, acute. Corolla lilac.

Etymology: —From “Cazza” the old name of Sušac island.

Distribution and ecology: —The species is exclusive of Sušac island ( Fig. 29L ) in the Lastovo archipelago (South Dalmatia). It grows on the calcareous rocky coasts and cliffs, where it is quite rare due to intensive goat grazing.

Additional specimens examined (Paratype): — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Insel Cazza, Strand am Valle Dugo, 26 July 1914, Ginzberger s.n. ( WU!) .

Figures

FIGURE 5. Limonium cazzae. A. Inflorescence branches. B. Spikelets. C. Outer bracts. D. Middle bracts. E. Inner bracts (dorsal view). F. Inner bract (lateral view). G. Calyces. H. Calyx lobes. I. Leaves. J. Leaf indumentum (adaxial face). K. Leaf indumentum (abaxial face) (Illustration by Salvatore Brullo based on Bogdanović s.n.. type CAT).

FIGURE 29. Geographical distribution of Limonium milovicii (A). L. omissae (B). L. velutinum (C). L. pharosianum (D). L. subanfractum (E). L. issaeum (F). L. busianum (G). L. brusnicense (H). L. zankii (I). L. vestitum (J). L. pomoense (K). L. cazzae (L). L. lagostanum (M) and L. pelagosae (N).

FIGURE 34. Habit of Limonium cazzae from holotype. Bogdanović s.n. (CAT).