Limonium hierapetrae Rech. f.

Limonium hierapetrae Rech. f. View in CoL in Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.- Naturwiss. Kl. 105(2, 1): 104. 1943.

– Lectotype (designated by Brullo & Erben 2016: 99): Greece, Creta, distr. Hierapetra: in litore arenoso a porto Hierapetra occidentem versus, 18 May 1942, K. H. Rechinger 13080 ( W [accession no. W1960-0012705]!; isolectotypes: G [ G00440217]! , M!). – Fig. 3 View Fig , 4C View Fig .

= Limonium chrisianum Brullo & Guarino in Fl. Medit. 10: 269. 2000. – Holotype: Hrisi (Ierapetra, Creta), 25 Aug 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT; isotype: FR [FR-0030972]!).

= Limonium minoicum Erben & Brullo View in CoL in Phytotaxa 240: 107. 2016. – Holotype: Creta, Tertsa (Ierapetra), rupi calcarenitiche, 27 Jun 2002, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (MSB [MSB-164247]!; isotypes: B [ B 10 1189106]!, CAT, FR [FR-0030969]!).

Description — Plants perennial, (10–)20–45(–80) cm tall, glabrous, with several erect stems. Caudices 1–7 cm long, branched with age and then plant with numerous leaf rosettes. Rosette leaves fleshy, pale grey-green, flat, coriaceous, verrucose to rugose, (8–)15–80(–100) × 3–16(–18) mm, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, gradually tapering into petiole, with petiole longer than or equal to lamina, margin cartilaginous, sometimes undulate, c. 0.3 mm wide, apex obtuse (sometimes almost rounded) to slightly acute, mucronate, mucro 0.2– 0.7(–1) mm long; 1 central nerve with 2 lateral nerves in large leaves. Stems numerous, erect, verrucose-rugose, branched usually above lower 1/4–1/3. Inflorescence paniculate, trullate or obtrullate in outline; sterile branches absent or 1–4 at lower part of stem, 10–70 mm long, straight; fertile branches straight or slightly arched, directed obliquely upward. Spikes (6–) 15–120 mm long, straight to slightly arched. Spikelets 4.8–7 mm long, more or less laxly arranged, 1–5 per cm, composed of 1–4(–6) flowers. Outer bract (1.4–)1.5–2.6(–3) × 1.5–2.1 mm, glabrous, ovate-triangular, margin membranous, apex acute; central part herbaceous, forming a short point. Middle bract 1.7–2.9 × 1.4–1.9 mm, glabrous, membranous, oblong-elliptic, apex rounded or sometimes emarginate. Inner bract (4–)4.2–5.8(–6) × 2.7–4 mm, glabrous, elliptic to oblong-obovate, margin membranous, c. 1 mm wide, apex obtuse to rounded; central part herbaceous, forming a short point 0.5–0.7 mm long. Calyx 4–5.6 mm long; calyx tube usually unilaterally long hairy; calyx lobes 0.4–0.6 mm long, ovate; tube ribs ending at or above base of lobes. Corolla bluish-lilac.

Chromosome number and ploidy — 2 n = 43; ploidy level: 5x ( Artelari 1989c).

Breeding system — Apomixis was inferred from the monomorphic populations with self-incompatible pollen-stigma combination B, low pollen fertility, high seed production, high ploidy level and odd chromosome number ( Artelari 1989c).

Distribution — Endemic to SE Crete, growing along the coast between Moni Kapsa and Dermatos and on the neighbouring islets of Chrysi and Fotia ( Fig. 1 View Fig ).

Habitat — Maritime calcareous, conglomerate and marly rocks, sandy and pebbly substrates.

Additional specimens seen — GREECE, CRETE, PREFECTURE OF IRAKLIO: Eparchia Viannou, Anapodaris-Küstenhof, 34°59'03" N, 25°19'30" E, 1–2 m ü.N. N, offenes Lycium schweinfurthii -Atriplex halimus - Tamarix -Gebüsch der Küste, 15 Oct 1998, N. Böhling 9019 (B [B 10 0193536]); Ep[archia]. Viannos, Mündung des Anapodharis, 34°59' N, 25°19'30" E, c. 1 m, Flussbett mit Sand- und Kieselflächen, 19 Sep 1984, H. Risse 1517 (B [B 10 1155993]); Dermatos village, at bank of river Anapodaris, 34.98328° N, 25.33094° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 318 (B [B 10 1164294], Z [Z-000278449]), K. Koutroumpa 319 (Z [Z-000278458]); presso la foce del fiume Anapodaris, depressione limoso-argillosa, 22 Aug 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (CAT); Tertsa, on calcareous maritime rocks, 34.99146° N, 25.52927° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 312 (Z [Z-000278450]), K. Koutroumpa 313 (B [B 10 1163946], Z [Z-000223471]), K. Koutroumpa 314 (Z [Z-000278451]); cultivated from wild source, Tertsa (Ierapetra), rupi calcarenitiche, Brullo & Giusso s.n., M. Erben Li-1708 (B [B 10 1009652], FR [FR-0128958]). — PREFECTURE OF LASITHI: Strand bei Myrtos westlich von Ierapetra, Südküste, 9 Apr 1971, A. Hansen 307 (C); Nea Myrtos (after Ierapetra), 10 m from sign of “Nea Myrtos” (end), 7 May 1986, Tiniakou 1350 (UPA); Prov. Ierapetra, Neos Myrtos, 10 m, S-facing, sandy slope, 22 Apr 1994, P. Wind 94-291 (C); from Ierapetra toward Myrtos, c. 1 km after village Nea Anatoli, Nea Myrtos, at edges of road with Ebenus cretica , 31 May 1988, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1012 (UPA); cultivated from wild source, 1 km W of Nea Anatoli, R. Artelari 1019 & V. Chondropoulos, M. Erben Li-1202 (B [B 10 0710892]); between Nea Anatoli and Ammoudares, in marls, hardly accessible spot, 35.00585° N, 25.65085° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 287 (B [B 10 1163942], Z [Z-000223477]), K. Koutroumpa 290 (B [B 10 1163933], Z [Z-000278462]); Nea Anatoli, steep marls, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1019 (B [B 10 0710893], UPA); 1 km E of Ierapetra, together with Tamarix and several Poaceae , sandy beach, 31 May 1988, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1013 (UPA); 3.2 km E of Ierapetra, “Nicolas Apartments”, on way down from stairs built on rocks, growing along and in both sides of stairs, hardly accessible spot, vertical rocks, 35.00018° N, 25.77360° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 281 (Z [Z-000278463]); 3.4 km E of Ierapetra, conglomerate rocks, sandy beach (E side), Artelari & Chrondropoulos 1055 (UPA); c. 1 km W of village Ferma (Ierapetra district), maritime calcareous rocks, plants under Pistacia , 1 Jun 1988, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1017 (UPA); c. 1 km W of village Ferma (Ierapetra district), coffee-bar Lilo, 31 May 1988, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1009 (UPA); c. 1 km W of Ferma, on rocky peninsula close to ancient fish ponds (coffee-bar Lilo), rock crevices, 6 May 1986, Tiniakou 1349 (UPA); Ferma beach, 8 Sep 2013, K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -11 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 - 12 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -13 (herb. University of Crete); Ferma, next to little port close to ancient fish pools, on cement floor, 35.01467° N, 25.84797° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 264 (Z [Z-000278464]), K. Koutroumpa 265 (B [B 10 1133542], Z [Z-000278466]), K. Koutroumpa 269 (Z [Z-000278465]); Distr. Hierapetrae, in saxosis litoreis insulae Photia, 22 May 1942, H. Stubbe 13267 (W [accession no. W1960-0012700]); Makrygialos (toward Ierapetra), S coast, bushes on beach with conglomerate rocks, at edge of cliff, 6 May 1986, Tiniakou 1348a (UPA); Makrygialos, conglomerate rocks, in inaccessible spot, under Roman settlement, Artelari & Chondropoulos 1018 (UPA); Makrygialos, conglomerate, inaccessible rocks below Roman settlement, 35.03499° N, 25.97258° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 252 (Z [Z-000278470]), K. Koutroumpa 256 (B [B 10 1164323], Z [Z-000278448]), K. Koutroumpa 257 (B [B 10 1163952], Z [Z-000278468]); Kalo Nero, 27 Mar 1998, N. Böhling 7283 (UPA, B [B 10 0203903]); Kalo Nero, 10 Jun 2000, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (B [B 10 1189126, B 10 1189131]); Kalo Nero, 24 Aug 1996, Brullo & Guarino s.n. (B [B 10 1189129]); Kalo Nero, beach Staousas, on rocks at NE side of beach, 35.01763° N, 26.03379° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 235 (Z [Z-000278455]), K. Koutroumpa 236 (Z [Z-000278456]), K. Koutroumpa 237 (B [B 10 1164105], Z [Z-000278457]); Eparchia Sitias, Kalo Nero, 35°00'55" N, 26°01'32" E, 5 m ü.N. N, Limonium hierapetrae - L. pigadiense [sic]- Lygeum -Flur auf Konglomerat-Kalksandstein, mit Schoenus nig [ricans]. (rar), WSW-exp., mittel alkal., stark lehmiger Sand, 5 May 1997, N. Böhling 5458b (B [B 10 0199664]); cultivated from wild source, Kalo Nero, Brullo & Giusso s.n., M. Erben Li-1705 (B [B 10 1009651]); Moni Kapsa, 8 Sep 2013, K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -14 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -15 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 - 16 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -17 (herb. University of Crete); Moni Kapsa in front of Perivolakia, 8 Sep 2013, K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -18 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -19 (herb. University of Crete), K. Koutroumpa & al. 2013.09.08 -20 (herb. University of Crete); Moni Kapsa, 10 Jun 2000, Brullo & Giusso s.n. (B [B 10 1189130]); Moni Kapsa, next to monastery in gorge which ends to sea, 35.01973° N, 26.05157° E, Aug 2014, K. Koutroumpa 227 (Z [Z-000278467]), K. Koutroumpa 228 (Z [Z-000278469]); Eparchia Sitias, M[oni]. Kapsa, 35°01'01" N, 26°03'01" E, 5 m ü.N.N., Konglomeratfelsküste, 16 Oct 1997, N. Böhling 6734 (B [B 10 0192510]); cultivated from wild source, Moni Kapsa, S. Brullo & Giusso s.n., M. Erben Li-1719 (B [B 10 1132915]); cultivated from wild source, Südost-Küste, Kloster Kapsa, Kattari s.n., M. Erben Li-1727 (B [B 10 1009650]).