Thliphthisa sapphus (Rubiaceae, Rubieae), a new species from Lefkada (Ionian Islands, Greece) and its ecological position

Autor(en)
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
Abstrakt

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(en)
Department für Botanik und Biodiversitätsforschung, Core Facility Botanischer Garten, Department für Funktionelle und Evolutionäre Ökologie
Externe Organisation(en)
Chungnam National University (CNU), Naturhistorisches Museum Wien (NHM), Murdoch University, Stellenbosch University, Privat
Journal
PhytoKeys
Band
241
Seiten
65-79
Anzahl der Seiten
15
ISSN
1314-2011
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.241.119144
Publikationsdatum
2024
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
106008 Botanik, 106035 Phytogeographie
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous), Plant Science
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/6048a996-db1c-4f32-b1ea-ee8ef5062fd2