Limonium minoicum Erben & Brullo, sp. nov. (Fig. 45)
Type:-GREECE. Crete: Creta, Tertsa (Ierapetra), rupi calcarenitiche, 27 June 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB- 164247!, isotypes CAT!, Herb. Erben!).
Diagnosis:-Planta perennis, glabra, griseo-viridis ad glauca, 15-35 cm alta, foliis 20-70 × 9-18 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, rugosis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel nonnullibus, spicis 25-60 mm longis, spiculis 5.8-6.3 mm longis, 2-4-floris, ad 2-5 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 1.7-2.5 × 1.8-2.3 mm, triangulari-ovata, bractea media 1.8-2.3 × 1.5-2.0 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 4.4-5.2 × 3.2-3.8 mm, obovato-elliptica, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 4.0-5.1 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0-1.5 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, late semi-ellipticis.
Description:-Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15-35 cm tall, with few erect stems and a robust tap- root. Caudices 10-30 mm long, branched; living leaves in rosettes at apices of caudices. Leaves coriaceous, grey- green, glaucous, 20-70 mm long and 9-18 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to round, flat, smooth, normally with 1 central nerve and 2 lateral nerves, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems glaucous, 15-45 cm long, slightly flexuous, rugose, branching begins above the lower quarter of the stems. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or only 1-2 per stem, 1-7 cm long, more or less straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 2-12 cm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 40°-55°, loosely branched in the upper third. Spikes 25-60 mm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards. Spikelets more or less thick, 5.8-6.3 mm long, composed of 2-4 flowers, more or less remotely arranged with 2-5 per cm, often pressed to the axis of spike. Outer bract 1.7-2.5 mm long and 1.8-2.3 mm broad, triangular- ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.8-2.3 mm long and 1.5-2.0 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded, emarginate. Inner bract 4.4-5.2 mm long and 3.2-3.8 mm broad, obovate-elliptic, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 3.5-4.0 mm long and 1.8-2.8 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.5-0.7 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.0-5.1 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0-1.5 mm; calyx tube sparsely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes fragile, ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, broadly semi-elliptic. Corolla light violet (17A4); diameter 7-8 mm.
Chromosome number:-2n = 43 (Erben Li-1708, unpubl.).
Distribution:-Restricted to southeast Crete, between Tsoutsouros and Tertsa (Fig. 88N). Habitat:-Rocky coast on calcareous, marly and conglomerate substrates, sometimes in pebbly localities. Etymology:-The epithet “minoicum” refers to the ancient Minoan civilization from Crete.
Taxonomic remarks:-For the habit L. minoicum shows close relation with L. creticum, but from which it differs by having 3-nerved leaves, and shorter spikelets, bracts and calyces, from L. chrisianum by having 3-nerved leaves and shorter spikelets, from L. hierapetrae by having shorter spikelets, inner bracts and calyces, from L. cornarianum by having broader, flat leaves.
FIGURE 45. Limonium minoicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx;
Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Creta, Tertsa, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).
Type:-GREECE. Crete: Creta, Tertsa (Ierapetra), rupi calcarenitiche, 27 June 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (holotype MSB- 164247!, isotypes CAT!, Herb. Erben!).
Diagnosis:-Planta perennis, glabra, griseo-viridis ad glauca, 15-35 cm alta, foliis 20-70 × 9-18 mm, spathulatis ad oblanceolatis, 1-nerviis, caulibus paucis, rugosis, ramis sterilibus absentibus vel nonnullibus, spicis 25-60 mm longis, spiculis 5.8-6.3 mm longis, 2-4-floris, ad 2-5 in 1 centimetro dispositis, bractea inferiore 1.7-2.5 × 1.8-2.3 mm, triangulari-ovata, bractea media 1.8-2.3 × 1.5-2.0 mm, oblongo-elliptica, bractea superiore 4.4-5.2 × 3.2-3.8 mm, obovato-elliptica, apice rotundata, margine late membranaceo, calyce 4.0-5.1 mm longo, ex bractea superiore 1.0-1.5 mm exserto, tubo sparsim piloso, lobis calycis ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, late semi-ellipticis.
Description:-Plant perennial, glabrous, forming a sub-shrub 15-35 cm tall, with few erect stems and a robust tap- root. Caudices 10-30 mm long, branched; living leaves in rosettes at apices of caudices. Leaves coriaceous, grey- green, glaucous, 20-70 mm long and 9-18 mm broad, spathulate to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to round, flat, smooth, normally with 1 central nerve and 2 lateral nerves, gradually tapering into the petiole. Stems glaucous, 15-45 cm long, slightly flexuous, rugose, branching begins above the lower quarter of the stems. Inflorescence obtrullate in outline. Sterile branches absent or only 1-2 per stem, 1-7 cm long, more or less straight, unbranched. Fertile branches 2-12 cm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards, forming branching angles of 40°-55°, loosely branched in the upper third. Spikes 25-60 mm long, straight to slightly arched, directed obliquely upwards. Spikelets more or less thick, 5.8-6.3 mm long, composed of 2-4 flowers, more or less remotely arranged with 2-5 per cm, often pressed to the axis of spike. Outer bract 1.7-2.5 mm long and 1.8-2.3 mm broad, triangular- ovate, obtuse; bract margin broadly membranous; central part slightly fleshy, sometimes only at the base, acuminate. Middle bract membranous, 1.8-2.3 mm long and 1.5-2.0 mm broad, oblong-elliptic, rounded, emarginate. Inner bract 4.4-5.2 mm long and 3.2-3.8 mm broad, obovate-elliptic, rounded; bract margin broadly membranous; central part fleshy, 3.5-4.0 mm long and 1.8-2.8 mm broad, oblong, acuminate, forming a triangular tip, 0.5-0.7 mm long, not reaching the upper margin. Calyx 4.0-5.1 mm long, exceeding the inner bract by 1.0-1.5 mm; calyx tube sparsely long hairy, with 5 ribs ending above the base of lobes; calyx lobes fragile, ca. 0.6 × 1.0 mm, broadly semi-elliptic. Corolla light violet (17A4); diameter 7-8 mm.
Chromosome number:-2n = 43 (Erben Li-1708, unpubl.).
Distribution:-Restricted to southeast Crete, between Tsoutsouros and Tertsa (Fig. 88N). Habitat:-Rocky coast on calcareous, marly and conglomerate substrates, sometimes in pebbly localities. Etymology:-The epithet “minoicum” refers to the ancient Minoan civilization from Crete.
Taxonomic remarks:-For the habit L. minoicum shows close relation with L. creticum, but from which it differs by having 3-nerved leaves, and shorter spikelets, bracts and calyces, from L. chrisianum by having 3-nerved leaves and shorter spikelets, from L. hierapetrae by having shorter spikelets, inner bracts and calyces, from L. cornarianum by having broader, flat leaves.
FIGURE 45. Limonium minoicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx;
Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Creta, Tertsa, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).
FIGURE 45. Limonium minoicum Erben & Brullo. A) Habit; B) Spikelet; C) Outer bract; D) Middle bract; E) Inner bract; F) Calyx;
Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Creta, Tertsa, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).
Calyx lobes; H) Leaves. (Drawn from “Creta, Tertsa, Brullo & Giusso s.n., MSB, CAT”).