Fritillaria shahuensis M. Advay, 2024

Fritillaria shahuensis M. Advay , sp. nov. ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4,5, Table 1)

Type:— IRAN. Kurdistan Province: Marivan to Paveh , Avroman (=Hawraman) region, north-west slope of the Shahu Mountain , Novin Village , 351105° N, 462149° E, in Quercus forest, mountain steppe, subalpine pasture and grassy ledges, 1460 m, 24 Apr. 2013, Advay 11385 (holotype: HKS; isotype: TUH) .

The new species is like F. atrolineata , F. chlorantha , F. assyriaca and F. kordestanica in its narrowly campanulate flowers and habit ( Fig. 4, Table 1) but differs from these species in number and size of leaves and colour, perigone colour, size of tepal segments, filament colour, nectary shape and colour, style surface and branched style ( Table 1).

Bulb-bearing herbs, bulbs globose to ovoid, 1.3–3.5 cm in diameter, with 1–2 bulblets. Stem 15–35 cm, 15–30 cm above ground, sometimes to 35 cm in fruiting stage, glabrous. Leaves 4–7 per stem, rarely up to 16 leaves, sessile, alternate, glaucous; the lowest 6.5–16.0 × 0.7–1.5 cm, oblong, lanceolate, acute. Bracts 3.5–12.0 × 0.3–0.5 cm; narrowly oblanceolate, acute, twisted. Flower 1–3 (–4), narrowly campanulate; perianth segments yellow-greenish, yellow-whitish, green to grayish brownish, rarely reddish purplish or blackish outside, yellow brownish, rarely purplish brownish inside, outer ones 16.0–22.0 × 3.5–5.0 mm, oblong-lanceolate, subacute to obtuse, sometimes recurved, ciliate-tufted at apex, inner ones 15.0–23.0 × 4.5–5.0 mm, lanceolate, subacute to obtuse. Nectaries 3.5–4.5 × 0.5– 1.0 mm, linear, black, rarely greenish, 1 mm above the base tepal. Filaments 5–7 mm, white, yellowish or greenish in upper part slender, cylindric, papillose; anthers 4–11 mm before dehiscence, ellipsoid, yellow, rarely greenish, basifixed. Ovary 6–8 mm long; style 6.0–8.5 × 1.5–2.5 mm, stout, cylindrical, greenish, entire, undivided at apex, densely papillose. Capsule 2.5–4.5 × 1.7–2.1 mm, obovoid-oblong, cuneate, not winged; seeds 5.0–6.0 × 5.0– 5.5 mm, obovate, brown ( Figs 4, 5).

Etymology:— Referring to the type locality, Shahu Mountain.

Distribution, habitat and phenology:— Known also from Kermanshah and Lorestan Provinces. It is an element of the Irano-Turanian floristic region and grows in Quercus forest, mountain steppes and grassy ledges, 1300–2300 m. Flowering March–April, fruiting June–July.

Species conservation assessment:— Extent of occurrence (EOO) is less than 5.000 km 2, and the area of occupancy (AOO) is less than 500 km 2 (criterion B1, B2); number of locations is less than five (a), with an estimated continuing decline (a, b) of occurrence (i), of occupancy (ii), quality of habitat (iii), and number of subpopulations (iv). Its populations are threatened by grazing. The developing capsules are usually grazed before maturation. This new species is assessed to be considered as endangered, EN B1ab (i, iv) B2ab (ii, iii, iv)” (IUCN 2019).

kordestanica .

Notes:— We compared F. shahuensis with F. atrolineata , F. chlorantha , F. assyriaca and F. kordestanica in the F. caucasica group ( Table 1). They are similar in terms of general facies, but Fritillaria shahuensis differs in colour and size of its lowest leaves and size, shape and colour of perigone segments. The size of leaves (especially lowest leaves) and outside and inside colour of the tepals are usually variable in Fritillaria , particularly in this group. The F. caucasica group is diverse in Turkey and Iran. Although these species are generally widely circumscribed, especially F. assyriaca , the distinctive floral characteristic of this species stands out.

Selected specimens examined:— IRAN. Kurdistan Province: Avroman (=Hawraman) region, north-west slope of the Shahu Mountain, Novin Village , 1450 m a.s.l., 23 Apr 2018, Advay 13375 ( HKS) ; Marivan to Paveh, Zarravah Mountain , Daymayaw Village , 2100 m, 26 Apr 2024, Advay 48835 ( TUH). Kermanshah Province: Hawraman, Paveh, Khanegha Village , Shahu Mountain , 1350 m, 30 Mar. 2023, Advay 48652 ( TUH). Lorestan Province: Brujerd, Chenar village , Garrein Mountain , 1710, 20 May 2013, Advay 11542 ( HKS) .