A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Calabria

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A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Calabria (S Italy) a

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G. Caruso , A. S. Giardina , F. M. Raimondo & V. Spadaro a

Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 10, 60131, Ancona, Italy b

Dipartimento STEBICEF/Sezione di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, 90123, Palermo, Italy Published online: 28 Aug 2013.

To cite this article: Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology (2013): A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Calabria (S Italy), Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology: Official Journal of the Societa Botanica Italiana To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.829889

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Plant Biosystems, 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.829889

A new species of Centaurea (Asteraceae) from Calabria (S Italy) G. CARUSO1, A. S. GIARDINA2, F. M. RAIMONDO2, & V. SPADARO2 1

Downloaded by [Giuseppe Caruso] at 10:59 29 August 2013

Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Universita` Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 10, 60131 Ancona, Italy and 2Dipartimento STEBICEF/Sezione di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Universita` degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy

Abstract A new species is described here from the Presila in Calabria (S Italy) and named Centaurea calabra. It belongs to Centaurea sect. Phalolepis and is related to the C. deusta group, namely to C. sarfattiana. Taxonomical characteristics, distribution, and ecology of the new Centaurea are also provided.

Keywords: Calabria, vascular flora, Italy, plant taxonomy, Centaurea calabra

Introduction In the last decades, a remarkable number of new taxa of different families have been added to the vascular flora of Italy (i.e. Peruzzi 2011; Castellano et al. 2012; Cataldo et al. 2012; Danin et al. 2012; Marino et al. 2012; Raimondo et al. 2012). Within the genus Centaurea L., particularly in the sect. Dissectae (Hayek) Dosta´l and sect. Phalolepis Cass., several new species have been described from the southern part of Italian peninsula (Puntillo 1996; Brullo et al. 2001; Guarino & Rampone 2006) and Sicily (Raimondo & Bancheva 2004; Raimondo et al. 2004; Raimondo & Spadaro 2006, 2008); in addition, some taxa of the genus have been studied phytochemically (Formisano et al. 2008), genetically (Bancheva et al. 2006, 2011), and from the nomenclatural point of view (Domina et al. 2012). In particular, recently Centaurea sarfattiana Brullo et al. (2004), Centaurea scillae Brullo, Centaurea aspromontana Brullo et al. (2001), Centaurea poltiana Puntillo, Centaurea ionica Brullo e Centaurea pentadactyli Brullo et al. (2001) have so far been described from southern Italy, namely in Calabria. All these taxa are related to C. deusta Ten., which also occurs in Calabria (Conti et al. 2005). In the course of some floristic excursions made along the hilly belt of the Presila mountains, in

the Catanzaro territory (southern Calabria), a remarkable population of Centaurea has been found, which is clearly related to C. deusta s.l., namely to C. sarfattiana, but quite distinct from the latter, both morphologically and ecologically. The taxonomical analysis, carried out in the Herbarium Mediterraneum Panormitanum (PAL), allowed us to refer the Calabrian population to a new species which is here described and named as Centaurea calabra. It is to be noted that new species of Centaurea have been described from several other European areas such as Spain (Lo´pez-Alvarado et al. 2012) and Bulgaria (Bancheva & Raimondo 2013). Materials and methods Morphological analysis has been carried out on herbarium specimens collected in the locus classicus and some other Calabrian localities, as well as on exsiccata kept in PAL, by comparison. Results Centaurea calabra G. Caruso, S.A. Giardina, Raimondo & Spadaro, sp. nov. (Figure 1). Holotype: Calabria, Contrada Scarano, Sersale (Catanzaro), scarpata stradale su conglomerato, 480 m (s.l.m.) 20 June 2010, G. Caruso (PAL).

Correspondence: F. M. Raimondo, Dipartimento STEBICEF/Sezione di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Universita` degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy. Email: [email protected] q 2013 Societa` Botanica Italiana

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Figure 1. Centaurea calabra: (a) habit of plant, (b) basal leaves, (c) stem leaves, (d) capitulum, (e) median involucral scale and (f) cypselae.

Isotypes: PAL-Gr and FI. Diagnosis: Planta perennis, 40–110 cm alta, caespitosa, viridula. Scapi erecti vel adscendentes, superne ramosi, scabriusculi, sparse lanuginosi. Folia inferiora pinnatifida, segmentibus mucronatis, irreguliter dentatis; apicalibus amplioribus; folia caulina pinnatifida, segmentibus mucronatis; linearia ad apicem. Capitula solitaria, involucro ovato 14–18 mm longo, 10–14 lato, squamis inferioribus mucronatis, exsertis; medianis ventricosis, longitudinaliter nigro-maculatis, marginibus scariosis; flosculi purpurei. Cypsela, subcylindrica, costulata, griseo-brunnea; pappus brevis, squamis irregulariter longis usque ad 1.5 mm. Description: Plant perennial, greenish, caespitose 40 –110 cm high. Stems erect or ascendent, minutely

scabrous, sparsely woolly, branching in the upper half. Basal leaves pinnatifide, 10– 18 cm, with laciniae irregularly toothed, 1.8– 4.5 mm; terminal lobe larger, apiculate; stem leaves laciniate, apically subentire, more or less linear. Capitula ovate, solitary at the end of the branches, 15 –18 mm £ 10 –14 mm; lower phyllaries with mucronate appendages, exserted; middle phyllaries ventricose, longitudinally black stained, scariose at margins. Florets purple. Cypsela subcylindric, grey-brownish, slightly costate, up to 4.5 mm long; pappus short with irregular scales up to 1.5 mm long. Etymology: The epithet refers to the Calabria region, the southernmost region of Italian peninsula.

A new species of Centaurea Biological form: Hemicryptophyte scapose. Phenology: flowering period, May; fruiting, June– July.


Distribution and ecology C. calabra occurs in a restricted area close to the Ionian coast of Calabria (S Italy). This area partially encompasses the Uria, Scilotraco and Crocchio Streams hydrographic basis. Stands of the newly described taxon have been found in the Zagarise, Cerva, and Sersale territories (Catanzaro province) within the altitudinal range of 140 – 710 m a.s.l. According to the bioclimatic classification proposed by Rivas-Martinez and Rivas-Saenz (1996– 2009), this area is mainly under Mediterranean macrobioclimatic conditions, so that C. calabra stands range along a bioclimatic gradient between the thermomediterranen –subhumid and mesomediterranean –subhumid thermo-ombrotypes. Unlike the surrounding territory, essentially dominated by acid rocks (mostly granite and gneiss), the area where the new taxon occurs is characterized by a remarkable frequency of sedimentary rocks, the commonest of which is polygenic conglomerate. This rock, made by heterogeneously sized acid rock clasts tightly cemented by limestone (Marchetti et al. 1968, 1970, 1971), is frequently fractured by faults, so forming a peculiar geomorphology characterized by cliffs, walls, and canyons. The conglomeratic cliff environment (or analogous of anthropic origin such as road escarpments) represents the favorite habitat of C. calabra which typically behaves as a genuine chasmophyte. On this substrate (Figure 2), the species is frequently associated with other taxa showing similar ecological requirements, such as the very rare C-S Italian endemics Lomelosia crenata subsp. pseudisetensis (Lacaita) Greuter & Burdet (Dipsacaceae), but elsewhere having a different

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ecology (Pirone et al. 2009) and Dianthus vulturius Guss. & Ten. subsp. vulturius (Caryophyllaceae) recently found in this area (Caruso 2007; Bernardo et al. 2012). C. calabra is an element of communities belonging to the phytosociological order Asplenietalia glandulosi Br.-Bl & Meier 1934 [class Asplenietea trichomanis (Br.-Bl. in Meier & Br.-Bl. 1934) Oberd. 1977]. Individuals of C. calabra growing on different substrata than conglomerate are quite rare. Due to the scattered availability of useful habitats and to the relative fidelity of this plant to its ecology, the distributional pattern of the species appears relatively dispersed (Figure 3). Taxonomic, ecological, and biogeographical remarks C. calabra is very close to C. sarfattiana from which it differs by basal leaves and morphology of middle phyllaries of capitula. It is also similar to C. deusta in habit, but it is distinct being perennial, not biennial, and by mucronulate basal leaves laciniae. Regarding ecology, C. sarfattiana occurs in the temperate macrobioclimatic belt (supratemperate – hyperhumid and orotemperate – hyperhumid thermo-ombrotypes). It grows in dwarf shrub vegetation on siliceous substrata which have been included in the phytosociological alliance Koelerio-Astragalion calabrici Giacomini & Gentile ex Brullo et al. (2004) (order Anthemidetalia calabricae Brullo et al. 2001, class Rumici-Astragaletea siculi Pignatti & Nimis in Pignatti et al. 1980) (Brullo et al. 2004). C. calabra, instead, prefers more thermophilic conditions and contributes to characterize chasmophytic communities that likely belong to the class Asplenietea trichomanis (Br.-Bl. in Meier & Br.-Bl. 1934) Oberd. 1977. The group of Centaurea deusta mostly occurs in the southernmost Italian peninsula. C. deusta s.l. is distributed in the Italian peninsula and Sicily. This group is very diversified in Calabria where many specific taxa are found. In the Mediterranean floristic territory, the Calabria region is, therefore, the most rich in taxa of the C. deusta group, and probably of the whole section, so that it may be considered as among the centers of diversification of Centaurea sect. Phalolepis. Other examined specimens Centaurea calabra

Figure 2. Centaurea calabra in its natural habitat.

Calabria: Sersale (Catanzaro), Contrada Scarano, scarpata stradale su conglomerato, bordi di gariga a Cistus sp., 20 June 2010, G. Caruso (PAL); Sersale (Catanzaro), Vallegrande, rupe conglomerato, 20 June 2010, G. Caruso (PAL); Sersale (Catanzaro),

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Figure 3. Location of Calabria into the Italian Peninsula (top left). Distribution of Centaurea sarfattiana and C. calabra in the Calabrian territory (top right). Detailed map of the known stands of C. calabra (bottom).

Timparossa, rupe conglomerato, 20 June 2010, G. Caruso (PAL); Sersale (Catanzaro), Contrada Crivo, rupe conglomerato, 20 June 2010, G. Caruso (PAL); Sersale (Catanzaro), Timparossa, rupe conglomerato, 17 June 2012, G. Caruso (PAL); Cerva (Catanzaro), Ponte Crocchio, rupe, 16 February 2010, G. Caruso (PAL); Zagarise (Catanzaro), Campanaro, affioramento roccioso (gneiss) al margine di gariga a Cistus monspeliensis e Phillyrea

latifolia, 14 July 2006, G. Caruso (PAL); Zagarise (Catanzaro), Ponte Lucceria, scarpata stradale su conglomerato, orlo/mantello di lecceto, 14 July 2006, G. Caruso (PAL). Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to Professor Pietro Mazzola, from Palermo University, and Dr Svetlana Bancheva,

A new species of Centaurea from Bulgarian Academy of Science, for their revision of the text. This work was supported by the University of Palermo and by the International Foundation for the Herbarium Mediterraneum.


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