Limonium isidorum Erben & Brullo, 2016

Brullo, Salvatore & Erben, Matthias, 2016, The genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae) in Greece, Phytotaxa 240 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

76. Limonium isidorum Erben & Brullo , sp. nov. ( Fig. 76 )

Type:— GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands : Samos , Agios Isidoros , litorale calcareo, 9 June 2005, Brullo & Musarella s.n. (holotype MSB-165816!, isotypes CAT!) .

Diagnosis: — Planta perennis, glabra, glauca, 25–45 cm alta, foliis 20–70 × 5–7 mm, anguste spathulatis, retusis, rugosis, 1- nerviis, caulibus paucis, rugosis, saepe proliferis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel nonnullis, spicis 20–75 mm longis, spiculis 5.5–6.3 mm longis, 1–3-floris, ad 2–4 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore, 1.8–2.3 × 1.9–2.1 mm, triangulari-ovata, apice obtusa, bractea media 1.9–2.3 × 1.6–1.9 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 4.8–5.3 × 3.2–3.8 mm, obovata, apice emarginata vel rare rotundata, late membranaceo, calyce 4.6–5.1 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0– 1.2 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.4 × 0.8 mm, semi-ellipticis.

Description: —Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 25–45 cm tall, with few ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 30–60 mm long, branched, more or less densely spirally leafy in the upper half, living leaves in rosettes at apices. Leaves herbaceous, glaucous, rugose, flat, 20–70 mm long and 5–7 mm broad, narrowly spathulate, rounded, retuse, shortly mucronate, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems glaucous, rugose, 12–40 cm long, straight to slightly flexuous, branching frequently begins above the lower third; often proliferating in axils. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or only 1–3 per stem, 5–15 mm long, straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 2–14 cm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 20°–45°, longer branches loosely branched in the upper half. Spikes 20–75 mm long, straight to slightly arched, inserted erect to obliquely. Spikelets 5.5–6.3 mm long, composed of 1–3 flowers, remotely arranged with 2–4 per cm. Outer bract 1.8–2.3 mm long and 1.9–2.1 mm broad, triangular-ovate, obtuse; bract margin more or less broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.9–2.3 mm long and 1.6–1.9 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded. Inner bract 4.8–5.3 mm long and 3.2–3.8 mm broad, obovate, normally emarginate, more rare rounded; bract margin more or less broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 3.6–4.4 mm long and 2.0– 2.5 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.5–0.7 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.6–5.1 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0– 1.2 mm; calyx tube sparsely, long hairy, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.4 × 0.8 mm, semi-elliptic. Corolla lilac.

Distribution: —Restricted to Samos, where it is very rare ( Fig. 88J ).

Habitat: —Calcareous rocky coast.

Etymology: — L. isidorum is named after Aghios Isidoros, a coastal locality on Samos where this plant grows.

Taxonomic remarks: — L. isidorum is similar to L. aucheri , from which it is clearly distinguished by having rugose and retuse leaves, typically emarginate inner bracts, and the calyx ribs that end above the base of the lobes.

Specimens examined (Paratypes): — GREECE. Eastern Aegean Islands: Samos , 2 km SW von Ireo, 30–50 m, 8 August 1993, Vitek 93-12 (M, Herb. Erben); Inseln Samos, Megalo Seitani Buch, 0–15 m, Sandstrand, 31 May 1999, Kalheber 99–682 (Herb. Kalheber) .

Figures

FIGURE 76. Limonium isidorum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Samos, Agios Isidoros, Brullo & Musarella s.n., MSB, CAT”).

FIGURE 88. (Map 3) Geographical distribution of Limonium amopicum (A); L. doerfleri (B); L. ikaricum (C); L. elaphonisicum (D); L. creticum (E); L. damboldtianum (F); L. astypaleanum (G); L. glomeratum (H); L. grabusae (I); L. isidorum (J); L. cythereum (K); L. kirikosicum (L); L. dolihiense (M); L. minoicum (N).