Limonium omissae 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

16. Limonium omissae Bogdanović & Brullo , sp. nov.

Type: — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Omiš, Dalmazia centrale, litorale roccioso, 5 November 2006, Brullo, Bogdanović & Giusso s.n. (holotype CAT!; isotypes CAT!, ZAGR!) ( Figs. 17 , 46 ) .

22 • Phytotaxa 215 (1) © 2015 Magnolia Press

BOGDANOVIĆ & BRULLO

Diagnosis: — Planta minute puberula, dense foliosum secus caudiculas, foliis rugosis, sparsim pubescentis, spathulatis ad linear-spathulatis, retusis, revolutis margine, 1-nervis, rare 2-nervis, scapis numerosis, erectis ad adscendentibus, rugosis, ramis sterilibus numerosis, inflorescentia reticulata, ramosa, spicis rectis ad curvatis, bractea inferiore ovato-triangulare, acuta, bractea superiore oblongo-ovata, obtusa, calice tubo piloso, lobis ovato-triangularibus, obtusis.

Description: —Plant perennial, 20–40 cm tall, minutely puberulous (hairs 0.02–0.05 mm long), with robust tap-root. Caudices branched, 4–6 cm long, densely covered by leaves. Leaves rigid, rugose, sparsely pubescent, green, 1–3.5 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, spathulate to linear-spathulate, revolute at the margin, 1-nerved, rarely 2- nerved, with secondary veins, tapering into a long petiole, retuse at the apex. Stems numerous, ascending to erect, rugose, minutely puberulous, with numerous sterile branches, flexuous, fragile at nodes, very branched, diverging at the angle of 80–130(–180)°, internodes 5–15 mm long, right to curved. Inflorescence reticulate, branched; spikes 1–3.5 cm long, straight to curved. Spikelets 5.5–6 mm long, 4–6-flowered, 4–5 per cm; outer bract 1.3–1.5 mm long, 1.3–1.7 mm wide, triangular - ovate, acute, with margin narrowly membranous, glabrous and central part fleshy, hairy, acuminate; middle bract 1.5–2 mm long, 1.1–1.4 mm wide, ovate, acute at the apex, membranous, hairy on the veins and central part; inner bract 3.1–3.5 mm long, 2.2–2.4 mm wide, oblong-ovate, obtuse, with margin membranous, glabrous, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, with central part fleshy, minutely puberulous, 1.8–2 mm wide, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.5–0.6 mm long, non reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.2–4.5 mm long, exserted 2–2.5 mm from the inner bract, tube hairy, ribs hairy, slightly exceeding the basal part of the lobe; calyx lobes, ovate-triangular, obtuse, 0.8–0.9 × 0.6–0.9 mm. Corolla lilac.

Etymology: —From “Omissa” the old name of Omiš town.

Distribution and ecology: —This species is circumscribed to short stretch of coast between Omiš and Živogošće (central Dalmatia) ( Fig. 29B ). Due to human activity in this area the natural habitats are strongly disturbed and therefore the halophilous communities characterized by this plant are very rare.

Additional specimens examined (Paratypes): — CROATIA. Central Dalmatia: Živogošće , obalni grebeni uz more, 5 November 1981, HeĆimoviĆ s.n. ( ZA!) ; Tra Ruskamen e Medići, Dalmazia centrale, litorale roccioso, Brullo , BogdanoviĆ & Giusso s.n., 5 November 2006 ( CAT!, ZAGR!) .

Figures

FIGURE 17. Limonium omissae. 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 Brullo. Bogdanović & Giusso 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 46. Habit of Limonium omissae from holotype. Brullo. Bogdanović & Giusso s.n. (CAT).