Silene nemrutensis (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from south-eastern Anatolia Author Yildiz, Kemal Author Çirpici, Ali Altayçeşme mah. Kuleli Köşk sok. No. 13 / 1, Maltepe-İstanbul, Turkey. Author Dadandi, Mehmet Yaşar Erciyes University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Kayseri, Turkey. Author Firat, Mehmet Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Education, Department of Biology, 65080 - Tuşba-Van Turkey. text Phytotaxa 2017 2017-01-25 292 2 189 195 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.292.2.6 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.292.2.6 1179-3163 Silene nemrutensis K.Yıldız , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–3 ). Type: — TURKEY . C 7 Adıyaman : Nemrut mountain, around Commagene Kingdom monuments, rocky, stony areas, southern slopes, 2050–2070 m a.s.l., 37º58′583″ N, 38º44′260″ E, 03 August 2005 , Yıldız, Dadandı et Fırat 073 ( holotype CBAH !, isotypes MUFE !, ERCH !, VANF !). FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Silene nemrutensis ( Ì ) and the similar species S. arguta ( Δ ). Diagnosis: —Rigid, much branched from the base, flowering stem 30–45 cm long, eglandular-pubescent, leaves elliptic, lanceolate to linear, pubescent, sessile, inflorescence in panicle, usually 3–5-flowered, calyx 20–26 mm long, eglandular-crisped-puberulent, petals white to lilac (lavender), two coronal scales present, auricules absent, stamens glabrous, styles base very slightly pubescent, anthophore glabrous or slightly eglandular-pubescent, seeds tetrahedral or triangle-like to reniform. Description (macro-morphology) :―Perennial, rigid, erect, much branched from the base, flowering stem 30–45 cm long, eglandular-criped, sometimes tomentose; all nodes swollen, internodes 2.5–3.7 cm long. Leaves elliptic, lanceolate to linear, sessile, rigid, not fleshy, acute to acuminate apex, light green, elliptical leaves with a main vein. Upper cauline leaves linear, shorter and narrower than the others; upper anf middle leaves in 3–4 pairs (12–35 × 1–12 mm ); basal leaves 22–45 × 2–4 mm . Bracts linear (4.0–4.5 × 0.5–1.0 mm), with scarious margins, acute apex. Inflorescence in lax panicle, branching repeat 2–6 times, usually 1–5(–7)-flowered, flowers hermaphrodite; pedicel 2.5–20 mm long. Calyx 20–26 mm long, with 10 prominent veins, veins not anastomose, eglandular-crisped (slightly hairy in the fruiting phase); calyx teeths trigonous, 4–5 mm long, acute to acuminate apex, margins hyaline and ciliate. Petals 5, 20–23 mm long, glabrous, exserted from calyx, upper surface white to lilac (lavender), lower surface light-green, veins visible, petal limbs bipartite 1/2 into two oblong lobes (lobes 3–4 mm long), two coronal scales present and claw exauriculate, scales 1–2 mm long, acuminate apex, claws 12–15 mm long. Stamens 10, filaments 8–15 mm long, creamy, glabrous. Styles 3, base slightly pubescent, 10–15 mm long, ovary oblong (4.5–5.0 × 1.5–2.0 mm), upper glabrous. Anthophore 7–12 mm long, glabrous or slightly eglandular-pubescent. Capsule oblong to ovoid (10–13 × 4–6 mm ), 3–5 mm exserted from the calyx. Seeds tetrahedral or triangle-like to reniform, 1.2–2.4 × 1.0– 1.4 mm . Description (seed testa micro-morphology) :―Seeds of Silene nemrutensis are tetrahedral or triangle-like to reniform in shape, 1.2–2.4 × 1.0– 1.4 mm in size, and they show surface flat to concave, back winged or flat, all plate suture outline (between testa cell) oblong and digitate to sinuous, granulation absent or unvisible, tubercules digitate or pyramidal, testa cells of back flat, obtuse, hylar zone recessed or prominent. Description (pollen morphology) :―Pollen grains are sferoidal (29−37 μm in diameter), with 32–40 pores, each pore 4.85–6.25 μm in diameter; distance between pores is 5.10–6.78 μm. Ornamentation is microechinatemicroperforate. Etymology: —The new species is named from Nemrut Mountain (Commagene Emperor). Commagene historic monuments is located on the Nemrut Mountain and the new species grows around these monuments. Phenolgy:— Flowering time June–July, fruiting time July–August. Distribution and habitat:— Silene nemrutensis occurs only on the Nemrut Mountain (Kahta/ Adıyaman ) and it can be considered as endemic to SE-Turkey where it grows on arid steppe, at 2050–2070 m a.s.l. Conservation status:— The new species has been found in one location. AOO is about 2 km 2 . The number of individuals observed is less than 300. Possible threaths are represented maily by tourism. By the application the criterion B2ab(iii) the new species is to be here assessed as Critically Endangered (CR) ( IUCN 2014 ). FIGURE 2. Silene nemrutensis (from the holotype, K. Yıldız 073 ): a : habit: b: exsiccata specimen: c, e : inflorescences; d, f : petal. Taxonomical notes:— On the basis the characters referring to inflorescence structure (panicle), calyx hairness (simple hairs), petals shape (divided two parts), and occurrence of coronal scales, Silene nemrutensis belongs to the sect. Spergulifoliae . Some features lead one to think also for the sect. Auriculatae Boissier (1867: 572) (flowers size), but petals are not auricolate, or sect. Sclerocalycinae Boissier (1867: 572) (inflorescence structure), but cauline leaves are not so many, and calyx are not glabrous and smooth (see e.g., Coode & Cullen 1967 , Chowhuri 1957). FIGURE 3. Silene nemrutensis [ ( K. Yıldız 073 ) (a, b, c) (from the holotype)]. S. arguta [ ( K. Yıldız 066 ) (d, e, f)]. a, d: exsiccata specimens; b , e: habit; c, f: flower. Silene nemrutensis show morphological similarities with S. arguta , which is a species also belonging to the sect. Spergulifoliae (see also Table 1). Both species refer to plants with stem rigid and without glandular hairs, while the calyxed have crisped hairs. But S. nemrutensis basal leaves elliptic, lanceolate to linear, 2–4 mm width(not obovate to narrowly elliptic, 3–8 mm width, as in S. arguta ), inflorencence lax (1–)3–5(–7)-flowered, (not lax, and 1–3-flowered in S. arguta ), calyx 20–26 mm (not 10.5–19.5 mm ), petal upper surface white to lilac, or lavender-coloured, lower surface light-green (not greenish-white), anthophore 7–12 mm long, glabrous or slightly eglandular-pubescent (not 3–8 mm long, only eglandular-pubescent), seed tetrahedral or triangle-like to reniform, back winged or flat, tubercules digitate or pyramidal tubercules (not only reniform, back flat only, tubercules rounded), pollen ornamentation is microechinatemicroperforate (not microechinate-reticulate), pore number 32–40 (not 21–32) ( Figs. 2‒5 , Table 1). Selected specimens examined: — Silene arguta . TURKEY . A8 Erzurum : Palandöken mountain , near ski resort, steppe, 2465 m , 28 July 2005 , Yıldız et Dadandı 054 (MUFE-12131) ; Bayburt : Bayburt-Aşkale road, Kop pass, 2300–2400 m , 27 July 2005 , Yıldız , Dadandı 053–3 ; A9 Ağrı : Ağrı- Erzurum , Tahir mountain , 2475 m , 15 July 1972 , Koyuncu s.n. (AEF-1978) ; B5 Kayseri : Yahyalı , Aladağ- Eskidut district , 2500 m , 05 July 1982 , Demiriz s.n. (HUB-3519) ; Kayseri : Pınarbaşı , Çukuryurt village , Hınzır mountain , 1900 m , 15 June 1981 , Çelik s.n. (HUB-3521) ; Kayseri : Dereşimli-Hanyeri , Gezibeli pass, stony-rocky areas, 2000–2250 m , 19 July 2011 , Yıldız , Minareci et Kuh 347 ( CBAH ) ; K . Maraş : Göksun , Değirmendere village , above Alıklıkaya , northeast slopes, 1650–1700 m , 06 July 2005 , Yıldız et Dadandı 014 ( CBAH ) ; ibidem (MUFE-12044); K . Maraş : Göksun , Doğankonaklı village hills, Binboğa mountain , below Kapı kayası, 1900–2250 m , 20 July 2011 , Yıldız , Minareci et Kuh 349–5 ( CBAH ) ; B6 Sivas : Kangal , Dağönü village , 1900–2100 m , 07 June 1987 , Çelik s.n. (EGE-32712) ; B7 Malatya : Malatya to Arabkir , 1450–1500 m , Hub. - Mor. 9027 ; B9 Bitlis : Nemrut mountain , north of lake and northeastern, 2500 m , 27 June 1972 , Tatlı s.n. (KON-1187) ; Van : Muradiye waterfall vicinity, 1900 m , 03 July 1986 , Seçmen s.n. (EGE-33214) ; Van : Tatvan-Nemrut , eastern slopes, steppe, 2450 m , 01 August 2005 , Yıldız , Dadandı et Fırat 070 ( CBAH ) ; ibidem (MUFE-12175); Van : Tatvan to Van 40 km , 1737 m , rocky, 01 August 2005 . Yıldız , Dadandı et Fırat 069 ( CBAH ) ; ibidem (MUFE-12173); Bitlis : Süphan mountain , 2896 m , 28 August 1954 , Davis et Polunin s.n. (ANK-24707) ; B10 Van : Hoşap , Güzeldere pass, Hoşap-Başkale road, 2800 m , 31 July 2005 , Yıldız , Dadandı et Fırat 066 ( CBAH !) ; ibidem (MUFE-12159); C4 Konya : Ereğli , Aydos mountain , Delimahmutlu , Kapız , limestone slopes, 1600 m , 26 June 1976 , Erik s.n. ( AIBU ) ; C6 Hatay : Dörtyol , Mığır peak, Topraktaş plateau, slopes, 2100–2150 m , 10 July 2006 , Yıldız s.n. ( CBAH !) ; ibidem (MUFE-12314); C7 Adıyaman : Nemrut mountain , Commagene kingdom ruins environment, rocky, southern slopes, 2030–2100 m , 03 August 2005 , Yıldız , Dadandı et Fırat 073 ( CBAH !) ; ibidem (MUFE-12180).