A new species of Teucrium sect. Stachyobotrys (Lamiaceae) from the south of Turkey

Turkish Journal of Botany Turk J Bot (2015) 39: 318-324 © TÜBİTAK doi:10.3906/bot-1403-50 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/ Research Article A new species of Teucrium sect. Stachyobotrys (Lamiaceae) from the south of Turkey 1 1 2, 2 Mecit VURAL , Hayri DUMAN , Tuncay DİRMENCİ *, Taner ÖZCAN Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey 2 Department of Biology Education, Necatibey Education Faculty, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Turkey 1 Received: 24.03.2014 Accepted: 27.07.2014 Published Online: 16.03.2015 Printed: 10.04.2015 Abstract: A new species of Teucrium L., Teucrium aladagense Vural & H.Duman, is described from Aladağ mountain, located in Adana, Kayseri, and Niğde provinces in Turkey. The species belongs to Teucrium L. sect. Stachyobotrys Benth. A description, distribution map, habitat, information on trichome morphology, and the threatened category of the species are provided. The differences between the new species and its allies T. lamiifolium d’Urv s.l. and T. hircanicum L. are discussed, and an identification key is provided for the identification of similar taxa. Key words: Adana, Aladağ, endemic, Kayseri, Niğde, Teucrium, Turkey 1. Introduction Teucrium L. is a large genus of Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae with more than 260 species. The genus is distributed mainly in the Mediterranean region, which is a major speciation center of the genus (Tutin and Wood, 1972; Cantino et al., 1992; Navarro and El Oualidi, 2000; Harley et al., 2004; Govaerts et al., 2010). Teucrium and Ajuga L. are distinguished from other members of the Lamiaceae with the upper lip of corolla reduced or lacking and style not fully gynobasic (Ekim, 1982; Navarro and El Oualidi, 2000; De Martino et al., 2010). A total of 46 taxa of Teucrium naturally occur in Turkey, and 16 are endemic to Turkey (Ekim, 1982; Duman, 2000; Dönmez, 2006; Dönmez et al., 2010; Dinç and Doğu, 2012; Dirmenci, 2012). Teucrium has been divided into 8 sections based on the general habit, leaf type, calyx shape, and inflorescence structure in the Flora of Turkey (Ekim, 1982). Most of the species (endemic and nonendemic) are distributed mainly in the Mediterranean phytogeographical region of Turkey. During a 2007 field trip to Aladağ, a large mountain in Adana, Kayseri, and Niğde provinces (Figure 1), interesting specimens of Teucrium were collected by the first 2 authors. After a careful examination of the morphological features of the specimens, it was determined that the specimens are new to science and belong to the genus Teucrium sect. Stachyobotrys Benth. (Lamiaceae, Ajugoideae), with similarities to T. hircanicum L. and T. lamiifolium d’Urv s.l. * Correspondence: 318 The aim of this paper is to provide a detailed morphologic description, trichome morphology, information on habitat and conservation status, and a distribution map of the new species. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Morphological and micromorphological studies The specimens were collected in 2007 and 2013 from the foothills of Aladağ, a major mountain of the Eastern Taurus mountain chain located at the intersection of Adana, Kayseri, and Niğde provinces (Figure 1). The specimens were dried using standard herbarium techniques and deposited in GAZI (Gazi University), NGBB (Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanical Garden), and the herbarium of Necatibey Education Faculty, Balıkesir University. The specimens were examined and compared with herbarium specimens (Appendix; on the journal’s website) in ANK, B, BCN, E, EGE, GAZI, HUB, INONU, ISTE, ISTF, K, KNYA, LE, MA, MARE, RO, TO, VANF, W, and WU, together with the definitions in the relevant literature (Bentham, 1834, 1848; Boissier, 1879; Briquet, 1895; Ekim, 1982; Rechinger, 1982; Dirmenci, 2012). The morphological characteristics of the species were determined by visual observations with a binocular microscope and a ruler. Research on trichome morphology of Teucrium aladagense and related species T. lamiifolium subsp. lamiifolium and T. hircanicum was carried out using tabletop scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Stems VURAL et al. / Turk J Bot Figure 1. Distribution of Teucrium aladagense (●), T. lamiifolium subsp. lamiifolium (★), T. lamiifolium subsp. stachyophyllum (▲), T. hircanicum (■). and leaves were investigated and photographed using a NeoScope JCM. SEM studies took place in the Basic Sciences Research and Applied Center of Balıkesir University. 3. Results 3.1. Teucrium aladagense Vural & H.Duman sp. nov. (Figures 2–3) (T. sect. Stachyobotrys Benth.) Type: Turkey, Adana: Aladağ/Pozantı: Kamışlı, between Hamidiye (Pozantı district) and Büyüksofulu (Aladağ district) villages, 1200 m, Pinus brutia Ten. forest, serpentine, rocky slopes, 23.06.2007. Vural (10030) & H.Duman (holotype: GAZI, isotype: ANK, HUB, ISTE, EGE, NGBB). Diagnosis: Teucrium aladagense similar to T. lamiifolium s.l. and T. hircanicum in morphology, but it can be easily distinguished from T. lamiifolium s.l. by its subshrub habit (not perennial or biennial herbs) (Figure 2–3), cuneate leaves at base (not truncate or subcordate), inflorescence lax-raceme, 5–25 cm in length (not dense spike-like raceme, 3–8 cm in length), bracts linear-subulate, 2–7.5 mm, longer than pedicel and shorter than calyx tube (not equal to or overtopping calyx), calyx 5–6.5 mm (not 6–9 mm); corolla purplish (not white or greenish white). It differs from T. hircanicum by its few- to many-branched ascending stems from the woody rootstock (not single or few-branched erect stem from base), leaves 1.6–4.5 × 0.5–2.3 cm, ±concolorous, cuneate at base (not 3–7 × 1–4.5 cm, ±discolorous, truncate or cordate), inflorescence lax raceme (not dense spike-like raceme), calyx 5–6.5 mm (not 4–5 mm). Description: Subshrubs; few to many stems from the woody rootstock. Stems 50–90 cm and branched from the base, ascending, lower part puberulous with sessile glands, densely villous with glandular papillate and sessile glands at inflorescence. Leaves petiolate, petiole 2–10 mm; leaves diminishing in size from base to inflorescence, 16–45 × 5–23 mm, ovate to lanceolate, serrate, cuneate at base, acute to obtuse at apex, bright green and puberulous with sessile glands above, pale green and denser puberulous with sessile glands beneath; veins visible. Inflorescence a narrow lax raceme, 5–25 cm, many flowered, flowers solitary in axils of bracts. Bracts linear subulate, 2–7.5 mm, longer than pedicel and shorter than calyx tube, puberulous to villous with densely sessile glands. Pedicel 2–3 mm. Calyx 5–6.5 mm, gibbous, densely villous with sessile glands, with glandular papillae; upper tooth broadly ovate, obtuse, ±reflexed; 2 lateral teeth shorter than the upper tooth, obtuse; 2 lower teeth linear-lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm, shorter or longer than the upper tooth. Corolla purplish, 6–8 mm, longer than calyx, densely villous with densely sessile glands and glandular papillae; middle lobe of lower lip bearded inside; style and filaments e (...truncated)