LIMONIUM CRATERIFORME
1. Limonium crateriforme Erben & Brullo, sp. nov. (Fig. 66)
Type:-GREECE. Dodecanese: Karpathos, Agios Theodoros, 30 June 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB-164251!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!).
Diagnosis:-Planta perennis, glabra, 15-55 cm alta, griseo-viridis ad glauca, foliis 8-40 × 1.5-5.0 mm, anguste spathulatis ad anguste oblanceolatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, conspicue tuberculatis, proliferis, spicis 20-130 mm longis, spiculis 9.0-10.5 mm longis, 1-4-floris, ad 1-4 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.8-3.8 × 2.1-3.0 mm, triangulari- ovata, bractea media 3.0-4.0 × 2.0-2.7 mm, bractea superiore 8.2-9.8 × 4.0-5.2 mm, oblongo-obovata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.0-7.2 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0-1.5 mm exserto, tubo glabro, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 0.9 mm, semi-ellipticis, interdum margines loborum calycis laceratis post anthesim.
Description:-Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15-55 cm tall, with several ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 5-15 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half; living leaves at apices in rosettes. Leaves fleshy, grey-green to glaucous, flat or v-shaped in cross-section, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, 8-40 mm long and 1.5-5.0 mm broad, narrowly spathulate to narrowly oblanceolate, apex acute to rounded, retuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 13-50 cm long, flexuous, constricted at the nodes, conspicuously tuberculate with many crateriform glands, branching begins near the base of the stems; normally repeatedly proliferating in axes. Inflorescence trullate or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches numerous, 1-10 cm long, straight to curved, constricted at nodes, undivided or branched. Fertile branches 2-25 cm long, conspicuously tuberculate with many crateriform glands, flexuous, articulate, long branches arched, short branches straight, directed obliquely upwards or nearly spreading, forming branching angles of 20°- 70°, branched. Spikes 20-130 mm long, straight to arched, directed obliquely upwards; axis of spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets 9.0-10.5 mm long, composed of 1-4 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1-4 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.8-3.8 mm long and 2.1-3.0 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute to obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, with several crateriform glands, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 3.0-4.0 mm long and 2.0-2.7 mm broad, obovate-elliptic to oblong-obovate, rounded. Inner bract 8.2-9.8 mm long and 4.0-5.2 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, with many crateriform glands, 6.0-7.8 mm long and 2.9-4.3 mm broad, oblong-obovate, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 1.0-1.5 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx often slender, 6.0-7.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0-1.5 mm; calyx tube glabrous, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7
× 0.9 mm, semi-elliptic; sometimes margin of calyx lacerate after anthesis. Corolla lilac.
Chromosome number:-2n = 34 (Erben Li-1715, unpubl.).
Distribution:-Widespread on Karpathos and Kasos; very rare in northeastern Crete (Fig. 86D).
Habitat:-Rocky coast on various substrates.
Etymology:-The epithet “crateriforme” refers to the shape of the glands found on the plants of this species.
Taxonomic remarks:-The occurrence of numerous crateriform glands covering the whole plant, its glaucous stems with numerous sterile branches, and the remotely arranged spikelets indicate that L. crateriforme is closely related to L. proliferum and L. stenotatum. However, it may be differentiated from both species most of all by having longer outer and inner bracts.
Type:-GREECE. Dodecanese: Karpathos, Agios Theodoros, 30 June 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB-164251!, isotypes CAT!, FI!, Herb. Erben!).
Diagnosis:-Planta perennis, glabra, 15-55 cm alta, griseo-viridis ad glauca, foliis 8-40 × 1.5-5.0 mm, anguste spathulatis ad anguste oblanceolatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus pluribus, conspicue tuberculatis, proliferis, spicis 20-130 mm longis, spiculis 9.0-10.5 mm longis, 1-4-floris, ad 1-4 in 2 centimetris dispositis, bractea inferiore 2.8-3.8 × 2.1-3.0 mm, triangulari- ovata, bractea media 3.0-4.0 × 2.0-2.7 mm, bractea superiore 8.2-9.8 × 4.0-5.2 mm, oblongo-obovata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 6.0-7.2 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0-1.5 mm exserto, tubo glabro, lobis calycis ca. 0.7 × 0.9 mm, semi-ellipticis, interdum margines loborum calycis laceratis post anthesim.
Description:-Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15-55 cm tall, with several ascending to erect stems and a robust tap-root. Caudices 5-15 cm long, branched, densely spirally leafy in the upper half; living leaves at apices in rosettes. Leaves fleshy, grey-green to glaucous, flat or v-shaped in cross-section, tuberculate with many crateriform glands, 8-40 mm long and 1.5-5.0 mm broad, narrowly spathulate to narrowly oblanceolate, apex acute to rounded, retuse, with one central nerve, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems 13-50 cm long, flexuous, constricted at the nodes, conspicuously tuberculate with many crateriform glands, branching begins near the base of the stems; normally repeatedly proliferating in axes. Inflorescence trullate or obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches numerous, 1-10 cm long, straight to curved, constricted at nodes, undivided or branched. Fertile branches 2-25 cm long, conspicuously tuberculate with many crateriform glands, flexuous, articulate, long branches arched, short branches straight, directed obliquely upwards or nearly spreading, forming branching angles of 20°- 70°, branched. Spikes 20-130 mm long, straight to arched, directed obliquely upwards; axis of spike with many crateriform glands. Spikelets 9.0-10.5 mm long, composed of 1-4 flowers, very remotely arranged with 1-4 per 2 cm. Outer bract 2.8-3.8 mm long and 2.1-3.0 mm broad, triangular-ovate, acute to obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, with several crateriform glands, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 3.0-4.0 mm long and 2.0-2.7 mm broad, obovate-elliptic to oblong-obovate, rounded. Inner bract 8.2-9.8 mm long and 4.0-5.2 mm broad, oblong-obovate, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, with many crateriform glands, 6.0-7.8 mm long and 2.9-4.3 mm broad, oblong-obovate, acuminate, forming a narrowly triangular tip, 1.0-1.5 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx often slender, 6.0-7.2 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0-1.5 mm; calyx tube glabrous, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes ca. 0.7
× 0.9 mm, semi-elliptic; sometimes margin of calyx lacerate after anthesis. Corolla lilac.
Chromosome number:-2n = 34 (Erben Li-1715, unpubl.).
Distribution:-Widespread on Karpathos and Kasos; very rare in northeastern Crete (Fig. 86D).
Habitat:-Rocky coast on various substrates.
Etymology:-The epithet “crateriforme” refers to the shape of the glands found on the plants of this species.
Taxonomic remarks:-The occurrence of numerous crateriform glands covering the whole plant, its glaucous stems with numerous sterile branches, and the remotely arranged spikelets indicate that L. crateriforme is closely related to L. proliferum and L. stenotatum. However, it may be differentiated from both species most of all by having longer outer and inner bracts.
FIGURE 66. Limonium crateriforme Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx; G) Calyx lobes; H) Leaf. (Drawn from “Karpathos, Agios Theodoros, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).