Allium beypazariense Koçyiğit, Özhatay & E.Kaya, 2023

Koçyiğit, Mine, Erarslan, Zeynep Büşra, Özhatay, Neriman & Kaya, Erdal, 2023, Allium beypazariense (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from middle Anatolia (Türkiye), Phytotaxa 630 (1), pp. 51-60 : 52-57

Allium beypazariense Koçyiğit, Özhatay & E.Kaya , sp. nov.

( Figs. 2–3 , Table 1 )

Type: — TÜRKIYE. Ankara, Beypazarı, Yukarıulucak , limestone cliffs, elevation 600–800 m, 09 July 2019, M.Koçyiğit (holotype: ISTE 118525 !; isotype: NGBB!)

Diagnosis:— A. beypazariense is related to A. opacum because of its short scape, almost effuse inflorescence, stamens slightly longer than tepals, ovary longer than wide, and, most importantly, the plant’s waxy outer surface. However, its mucronate tepal apex, sessile ovary, different anther colour, and thick scape distinguish the new species from the close species.

Bulb ovoid, 1–2.5 × 1–2 cm; outer tunics coriaceous, milky brown, inner tunics whitish, membranous. Scape one or two each bulb, erect, waxy, 12–15 cm tall, 5.5–6 mm wide, cylindrical, purplish to green glaucous, glabrous, usually robust, 1/2–2/3 of its length covered by the leaf sheaths; sheaths scabrid. Leaves (1–)2–4(–5), scabrid, cylindrical, solid limb, shorter than scape, 7–8 cm long, and (2–)2.5–3.0 mm wide. Spathe reflexed with two unequal valves, persistent, the longer 10–11 veined up to 8–10 cm, at least 2 times longer than the inflorescence; smaller 6–8 veined, up to 6–8 cm, slightly longer than inflorescence. Inflorescence dense, effuse, 60–80 flowered, 4.5–5 cm diameter, almost globose, pedicels almost equal or subequal, (1–)1.5–2(–2.5) cm, dark violet at based with bract, pruinose. Perigon campanulate, 4.5–5 × 3.5–4 mm; tepals unequal, pinkish-white, inner (4–)4.5–5 × 1.5–2(–2.5) mm, oblong slightly mucronate at apex, distinctly brownish striated margins with dark greenish-purple midvein; outer tepals (4–)4.5–5 × 2–2.5(–2.5) mm, oblong, distinctly mucronate at the apex with dark green midvein, slightly pinkish striated margins. Stamens slightly exerted, with simple, white filaments, 0.5 mm wide at the base, subulate at apex, almost equal, connate at the base into an annulus 1 mm high; anther yellow but violet at margins, 0.8–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, rounded at apex. Ovary oblong, sessile, 3.5–4 × 2–2.5 mm, papillose at apex; style 2.5–3 mm long, white; stigma point shaped. Capsule globose, 4.5–5 × 4.5–5 mm, surface rugose; capsule valves almost orbiculate, narrowed at base, truncate, papillose at the apex. Seeds black, rugulose, broadly semicircle, 3–4 × 2 mm.

Etymology:— The name of the species is derived from Beypazarı District. Beypazarı is a district of Ankara, Türkiye, and is the region where the new species was discovered for the first time.

Suggested Turkish name:— The Turkish name of this species is suggested as “Beypazarı soğanı” according to the guidelines of Menemen et al. (2016).

Distribution and ecology:— Allium beypazariense is endemic to Türkiye and distributed in the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region. It grows on limestone cliffs at elevations of 600–800 m and it is only known from the type locality in Beypazarı, also it has been taken photo from Çayırhan district ( Fig. 4 ). Allium beypazariense grows with a few flowering plants adapted to the limestone habitat such as Allium pseudoflavum Vvedensky (1934: 123) , Dianthus crinitus Smith (1794: 300) , Bupleurum sulphureum Boiss. & Balansa in Boissier (1859: 74), Centaurea virgata Lam. in Lamarck & Marie (1785: 670), Polygala vulgaris Linnaeus (1753: 702) , Teucrium polium Linnaeus (1753: 566) , Scutellaria orientalis Linnaeus (1753: 598) , Salvia palaestina Bentham (1835: 718) and Scabiosa argentea Linnaeus (1753: 100) .

Leaf anatomy:— The leaf cross-sections of Allium beypazariense and A. opacum show a cylindrical outline with 12 ribs. In A. beypazariense , ribs are prominent and have 2–3 µm long papillae, whereas in A. opacum the ribs are almost indistinct and there are no papillae. In both species, the epidermis has isodiametric cells, also the outer walls of the cells are thick, and the lateral and inner walls are thinner. However, the epidermis is covered by a thin cuticle layer in the new species, but a thick cuticle layer in A. opacum . The palisade tissue is compact and arranged in 2–3 layers of long cylindrical cells in A. beypazariense , whereas mostly 2-layers of long cylindrical cells in A. opacum . The spongy tissue is almost compact, the leaf is solid, and 120–130 secretory ducts with 0.5–0.6 µm diameters occur under the palisade tissue of A. beypazariense . On the other hand, the spongy tissue is not compact, the leaf is fistulous in the center, and 60–80 secretory ducts with 0.4–0.5 µm diameters occur under the palisade tissue of A. opacum . The vascular bundles are 20–22, of which 7–8 are bigger in A. beypazariense , but A. opacum has 27–30 vascular bundles, of which 7–8 are bigger. Both of the leaf cross-sections, the abaxial surface or the adaxial surface cannot be distinguished ( Fig. 5 ).

Seed Morphology:— The seeds of the investigated new species and its related species are black and wrinkled. The seeds are generally semi-ovoid. The testa cells are polygonal and almost irregular. At 2000× magnifications, testa cells were observed as quadrangular or pentagonal, and the length of the cells was approximately 2 times longer than their width (35–45 × 16.5–23 μm), with minutely undulate borders in Allium beypazariense , but the testa cells revealed a subpolygonal and nearly isodiametric shape (15–20 × 18–25 μm), with irregularly undulate borders in A. opacum . The seeds of A. beypazariense were 3–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, while the seeds of A. opacum were 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 mm in size. The periclinal walls were almost at the same plane in the seed of A. beypazariense , but they were slightly raised in the seed of A. opacum . The anticlinal walls were covered by prominent strip-like connections forming a large intercellular region 2.5–3 μm wide in A. opacum . Conversely, an intercellular region is 1.5–2 μm wide and nearly flat in the anticlinal testa walls of A. beypazariense ( Fig. 6 ).

Pastor (1981) observed periclinal walls (walls parallel to the surface of the plant tissue) that had multiple verrucae (wart-like projections) and mostly one larger central verruca in this section. Kruse (1984), Cheshmedziev & Terzijski (1997) and Celep et al. (2012) confirmed the presence of similar characteristics, as reported by Pastor (1981). Ilarslan & Koyuncu (1997) reported hexagonal isodiametric testa cells (cells in the seed coat with equal diameters on all sides), striate anticlinal walls (walls perpendicular to the surface of the plant tissue with fine lines or ridges), and 1–3 large and 5–8 small verrucae for some species in this section, A. opacum, Celep et al. (2012) for the first time and it has been found to have similar sculpture, as in our results.

Conservation status:— In addition to its type locality, the distribution of A. beypazariense was also determined in Çayırhan. The area of occupancy (AOO) is less than 12.000 km 2 and the extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 25.473 km 2 for all sites in which about 250–300 individuals were estimated to occur. There was also its habitat under industrial waste and human pressure. Hence, following the criteria established by IUCN ( IUCN 2014), an assessment of Critically Endangered (CR), criteria A4cd, B2ab(iii, iv, v), is suggested for this new taxon ( IUCN 2014).

Taxonomic relationships:— Allium beypazariense clearly belongs to the A. sect. Codonoprasum because of its simple filaments, inconspicuous nectaries on the ovary, and two opposite spathe valves, which are unequal and longer than the umbel. This species, for some morphological features, leaf anatomy, and seed morphology, is well differentiated from other allied species in this section. Firstly, it can be compared to the A. sibthorpianum Schultes (1830: 1057) with its features such as almost equal stamens to the tepals, pinkish-white tepal colour, short scape, and effuse inflorescence. However, it differs from this species with distinctive features such as the waxy tepal surface and pedicels, white inner tunic (purple in A. sibthorpianum ), and the 2.5–3 mm leaf width (0.5–1 mm in A. sibthorpianum ). Secondly, it can be compared to A. phrygium Boissier (1882: 256) with the characteristics of the scabrid leaf sheath, the almost equal stamens to tepals or slightly longer than the tepals, and the close distribution area to the distribution area of the new species. On the other hand, A. phrygium is easily distinguished from the new species by its inflorescence 6–7 times longer than spathe, the yellowish or greenish-yellow tepals, the spherical inflorescence, and the 20–50 cm long scape. Finally, the closest species to A. beypazariense is A. opacum , with its short scape, inflorescence, stamens slightly longer than tepals, ovary longer than wide, and most importantly, the outer surface of the plant being waxy. But yet, it can be easily distinguished from it by its mucronate tepal apex, sessile ovary, different anther color, and thick scape ( Fig. 7 ). Table 1 lists the most discriminant characteristics, which primarily involve the outer tunics, scape size, number and size of leaves, size and shape of flower pieces, capsule, and seeds.

Examined species:— Allium beypazariense ; Ankara Province: Beypazarı, Eti soda factory road, elevation 695 m, 28 October 2011, E. Kaya 2745 ( ISTE 117222 !) ; Çayırhan, 3 km before Çayırhan, gypsum slopes on the right of the road, 40.10582 N, 31.721972 E, elevation 600 m, 10 July 2023, M. Gökmen s.n. A. opacum : Kahramanmaraş Province: Baskonus Forests , around the fire extinguisher tower, stony, cliffs, elevation 1800 m, 15 July 2009, M. Koçyigit 297 ( ISTE 87769 !) ; Adıyaman Province: 33 km from Adıyaman, eastern slopes of Akdag , elevation 1300 m, Kit Tan 2002 ; Hatay Province: inter urbem Aleppoet oppidum Antakieh ( Antakya ), Kasr el Benat , in rupestrian calc., elevation ca 320 m, 29 May 1933, Samuelsson 5508 (holotype. K!) .

Identification key to the species closely related to A. beypazariense

1. Scape at least 20 cm long; spathe 5–6 times longer than inflorescence; flowers yellowish ........................................... A. phrygium

- Scape maximum 20 cm; spathe up to 2 times longer than inflorescence; flowers pinkish-white or greenish...................................2

2. Inner tunics purple; tepals shiny, not waxy ............................................................................................................. A. sibthorpianum

- Inner tunics whitish; tepals waxy, not shiny.......................................................................................................................................3

3 Ovary sessile; tepals mucronate at apex, brownish-pinkish striated margins with dark greenish-purple midvein .............................. .................................................................................................................................................................................. A. beypazariense

- Ovary stipitate; tepals rounded-obtuse at apex, yellowish-green with green midvein....................................................... A. opacum

Figures

FIGURE 2. Diagnostic features of Allium beypazariense from type locality. A) Habit, B) Inflorescence, C) Pedicels with bracts, D) Perigone, E) Leaf sheathing, F) Bulb.

FIGURE 3. Illustrated diagnostic features of Allium beypazariense (A–D from cultivated specimens, E–H from wild specimens).A) Habit and inflorescence, B) Leaf sheathing, C) Bulb, D) Margin of leaf, E) Perigone, F) 3 Stamens and tepals, G) Ovary, H) Capsule.

FIGURE 4. The habitat of Allium beypazariense from type locality (Photo by T. Avcı).

FIGURE 5. Leaf cross-section of Allium beypazariense (ISTE 117222!) (A–C) and A. opacum (ISTE 87769!) (D–F).

FIGURE 6. SEM micrographs of seed testa of the new species and its closest related taxa. (A,B) Allium beypazariense; (C,D) A. opacum.

FIGURE 7. Flower details of Allium beypazariense (A and B: Perigone, C: Tepals and filaments, D: Ovary, E: Capsule) and A. opacum (F and G: Perigone, H: Tepals and filaments, I: Ovary, J: Capsule).