Thliphthisa sapphus (Rubiaceae, Rubieae), a new species from Lefkada (Ionian Islands, Greece) and its ecological position
- Author(s)
- Walter Gutermann, Tae Soo Jang, Arndt Kästner, David Prehsler, Dieter Reich, Andreas Berger, Ruth Flatscher, Christian Gilli, Markus Hofbauer, Margarita Lachmayer, Ruth Sander, Michaela Sonnleitner, Ladislav Mucina
- Abstract
The new species, Thliphthisa sapphus sp. nov. (Rubiaceae, Rubieae), a narrow endemic of the white cliffs of Lefkatas on the southwest coast of Lefkada (Greece) is described and illustrated and an IUCN assessment is presented. Vegetation relevés were performed at the single known locality, limestone cliffs facing the sea and revealed a new association, the Thliphthisa sapphus-Lomelosietum dallaportae. The chromosome number of Thliphthisa sapphus was determined as 2n = 4x = 44, being the single tetraploid species in the genus to date. The species also differs markedly morphologically from its morphologically closest relatives, two Greek steno-endemic oreophytes, Th. baenitziii and Th. muscosa by the following characters: densely setose mericarps and corolla, tetraploidy and by its distribution. An identification key for the Greek species of Thliphthisa is provided. Th. sapphus constitutes the westernmost outpost of a group of Greek steno-endemics, highlighting the importance of coastal habitats and their protection as refugia for poorly competitive chamaephytes.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Core Facility Botanical Garden, Functional and Evolutionary Ecology
- External organisation(s)
- Chungnam National University (CNU), Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM), Murdoch University, Stellenbosch University, Privat
- Journal
- PhytoKeys
- Volume
- 241
- Pages
- 65-79
- No. of pages
- 15
- ISSN
- 1314-2011
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.241.119144
- Publication date
- 2024
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106008 Botany, 106035 Phytogeography
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Plant Science
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/6048a996-db1c-4f32-b1ea-ee8ef5062fd2