A new species of Veronica (Plantaginaceae) from Western Iran Author Advay, Mahfouz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3542-532X Central herbarium, Scholar biology, College of Science of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran Author Albach, Dirk C. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9056-7382 Institut fuer Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky-Universitaet, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany dirk.albach@uni-oldenburg.de Author Doostmohammadi, Moslem https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1777-6676 Department of Biology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran text PhytoKeys 2024 2024-01-29 237 219 230 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.237.115003 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.237.115003 1314-2003-237-219 FE5C8DCC60225357921EA86A73BF932A Veronica kurdistanica M.Advay sp. nov. Fig. 1A-F Type . Iran - Kurdistan province , Kamyaran , Schahu mountain , 34°53'48"N , 46°33'43"E , 2700 m , 7 May 2015 , Advay 12808. ( holotype HKS! (Fig. 2 ), isotype TUH!) . Figure 1. Veronica kurdistanica A-D habitat and habit E, F corolla and inflorescence (photos by M. Advay). Figure 2. Holotype of V. kurdistanica . Diagnosis. Veronica kurdistanica is similar to V. daranica (Fig. 3A-D ) based on simple stems (branched only at the base), terminal racemes (rarely axillary), and purple petals. However, it is distinguished from V. daranica by the densely glandular (vs. glabrous) indumentum, obovate, elliptic to spathulate leaves that are 4-10 mm long (vs. narrowly elliptic, elliptic to spathulate and 2.5-5 mm long), lanceolate bracts that are 2-2.5 mm long (vs. spathulate and 1.5-2 mm long), capsule 1.2-2.2 mm long and 2-2.1 mm wide (vs. 1.8-2.5 mm long and 2-2.5 mm wide), and seeds 0.8-1.2 mm long and 0.3-0.5 mm wide (vs. 0.7-0.9 mm long, 0.5-0.7 mm wide) (Table 1 ). Also, V. kurdistanica is related to V. khorassanica but it is distinguished from the latter by the densely glandular indumentum (vs. dense eglandular subcrispate); oblong-obovate, elliptic to spathulate leaves (vs. linear), shorter, terminal racemes with 4-14 flowers (vs. axillary racemes with 15-20 (-60) flowers), longer bracts (2-2.5 mm) and calyces (1.7-2 mm long at anthesis, 2-2.5 mm long in fruit) (vs. bracts 1-1.5 (2.5) mm long, calyces 2-2.5 mm long at anthesis, 2.5-3 mm in fruit), and capsule (1.2-2.2 mm long and 2-2.1 mm wide vs. 2.5-3.5 mm long, 3-3.5 mm wide), and seed size (0.8-1.2 mm long and 0.3-0.5 mm wide vs. 1.5-2.5 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide) (Table 1 ). Our new species also differs from V. kurdica , specifically by: stems 4-8 cm tall (vs. (5-)10-20(-30) cm), indumentum densely glandular (vs. eglandular or glabrous), raceme terminal and 4-14 flowered (vs. racemes axillary and 5-20 (-25) flowers), pedicels l.5-2 mm long in fruit (vs. 4-8 (-10) mm in fruit), corolla purple, 2.5-3 mm long, 5 mm in diameter (vs. dark to violet blue, 4-6 mm long, 8-10 (-11) mm in diameter) and capsule (1.2-2.2 mm long and 2-2.1 mm wide vs. 2-3.5 mm long, 3-5 mm wide) and seed size (0.8-1.2 mm long and 0.3-0.5 mm wide vs. 1.4-1.8 mm long, 1.1-1.4 (-1.6) mm wide) (Table 1 ). Figure 3. Veronica daranica A-C habitat and habit D corolla and inflorescence (photos by M. Doostmohammadi). Description. Perennial plant, rhizome stout, plant 4-8 cm tall; stems woody, ascending at base, erect, +/- densely glandular. Leaves 8-10 pairs, fleshy, lower leaves with petiole 8-10 mm long, 4-8 mm wide, gradually attenuate at base, oblong-obovate, elliptic to spathulate, cauline leaves 4-6 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, sessile above, entire, +/- glandular, upper side more than lower side. Racemes 1-2, often terminal, 4-14 flowered, 0.5-1 cm long in flowering stage, elongated to 1-1.5 cm long in fruiting stage; hairs 0.3-0.5 mm long, glandular; bracts spathulate, 2-2.5 mm long, shorter than leaves, entire, densely glandular hairy on the upper surface, less so on the lower side; pedicel 1-1.5 mm long at anthesis, 1.5-2 mm long in fruit, pubescent with spreading yellowish glandular hairs. Calyx 1.5-2 mm long and 0.7-1 mm wide at anthesis, 2-2.5 mm long and 1-1.2 mm wide in fruit; lobes oblong, 0.4-0.8 mm long united at base. Corolla purple, 2.5-3 mm long, 4-5 mm in diameter, adaxial and lateral lobes elliptic, obtuse and abaxial lobe oblong, subacuminate, corolla tube white and internally densely pubescent; stamens with filaments 1.5-2 mm long, white; anthers ca. 1 mm, purplish to white; style 1.6-2.7 mm long, purplish, whitish at base. Capsule obcordate, 1.2-2.2 mm long and 2-2.1 mm wide, equaling or slightly overtopping the calyx, glandular hairs sparsely spreading. Seeds flat, oblong-elliptic, 0.8-1.2 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, brown-yellowish, surface reticulate. Etymology. Referring to Kurdistan Province (Western Iran), where the new species was discovered. Distribution, habitat, and phenology. The species is currently known from a few populations in Schahu mountain, Hawraman region, Kurdistan Province, western Iran. It is an Irano-Turanian phytogeographical element that grows on limestone cliffs of mountainous slopes of Schahu mountains, 2500-2950 m a. s. l. (Figs 4 , 5 ). Flowering April to May, fruiting June. Figure 4. A, B habitat of Veronica kurdistanica (photos by M. Advay). Figure 5. Distribution of Veronica kurdistanica (circle) and V. daranica (cross), V. khorassanica (square), V. kurdica subsp. kurdica (blue triangle) and V. kurdica subsp. filicaulis (pink triangle) in Iran. Conservation status. Veronica kurdistanica is observed in a restricted area of the Avroman (Hawraman) region in the province of Kurdistan. The estimated area of occupancy is less than 50 km2. The species is proposed to be classified as critically endangered (CR) following the IUCN criteria (2022). Taxonomic notes. Veronica kurdistanica belongs to Veronica subgenus Pentasepalae (Benth.) M. M. Mart. Ort., Albach & M. A. Fisch. (Fig. 6 ), by far the most species-rich subgenus in Iran, with many perennial, mountainous species. It has been demonstrated that this subgenus has probably originated in the Iranian plateau, with several relict and morphologically isolated species distributed at present along the Zagros and Alborz Mountains ( Doostmohammadi et al. 2022 ). Figure 6. 50% majority-rule consensus tree obtained from the Bayesian analysis of nrDNA ITS sequences. Posterior probabilities are given above the branches. Veronica kurdistanica belongs to the V. kurdica species group and is morphologically closest to V. daranica (Fig. 3 ) but occurs more than 500 km apart (Fig. 5 ). The group has maximum support in the phylogenetic analysis (Fig. 6 ), although there is no morphological character setting this group apart from related species. Members of this group are all endemic, perennial species adapted to arid conditions; they are important constituents of the alpine flora of Iran. Species delimitation is sometimes difficult among the members of V. kurdica species complex. For instance, V. daranica differs from glabrous forms of V. kurdica subsp. filicaulis (Freyn) M.A. Fisch. only by its dense, compact habit, thinner petals and some other subtle morphometric differences, but the molecular studies confirmed that it is a distinct species ( Doostmohammadi et al. 2022 ). However, V. kurdistanica is a unique species within V. kurdica complex differing from all others by its glandular indumentum, apart from other subtler differences mentioned above. Other species are either glabrous or have an eglandular indumentum. It is not unusual in the genus to differentiate a species mainly on the basis of glandular indumentum and other subtle differences. An example is V. porphyriana Pavlov, which has often been included in V. spicata L. ( sensu lato ), but has been clearly differentiated based on DNA-based evidence ( Khan et al. in press ). In the molecular phylogenetic tree, our new species is assembled in a polytomy including V. daranica , V. khorassanica , and two subspecies of V. kurdica (Fig. 6 ). A comprehensive morpho-molecular study is required to delimitate further the species of this complex, both morphologically and geographically. The finding of this new species is noteworthy since it emphasizes that the Kurdistan region is an important center of diversity, despite being under-investigated. Thus, future field work may further increase the species number of the region. Additional specimens (paratypes). Iran - Kurdistan province, Kamyaran, Schahu mountain 34°53'48"N , 46°33'43"E , 2500 m, 10 May 2015, Advay 12829 (HKS), Kamyaran, Schahu mountain 34°54'30"N , 46°32'43"E , 2920 m, 15 May 2023, Advay 48735 (TUH).