 |
| Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum A.Alzahrani, in Alzahrani, Brehm, Ghazanfar & Maxted. 2022. |
Summary
A new species of Rhabdotosperma (Scrophulariaceae) is described from southwestern Saudi Arabia. For 75 years, the species was confused with R. bottae and Verbascum melhanense. The new species is illustrated with information on identification, distribution, specimens examined, habitat, conservation status, phenology, etymology, and taxonomic notes.
Key Words: Al-Soudah, Arabian Peninsula, Asir, Critically endangered, Endemic, Verbascum
 |
| Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum. A habit; B leaf and petiole with two small lateral lobes; C flower (showing two anterior anthers inserted obliquely); D calyx and upper bract (densely covered in glandular hairs); E capsule; F seed. A – D from I. S. Collenette 3316; E – F from L. Boulos & A. S. Ads 14165. drawn by S. Almalki |
 |
| Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum. A, B habit, from Al-Soudah, Asir mountains, Abha, Saudi Arabia. Photos: S. Collenette. |
Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum A.Alzahrani, sp. nov.
RECOGNITION. Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum is morphologically similar to R. bottae and R. scrophulariifolium, sharing with these two species similarly winged petioles, oblong calyx lobes, racemose inflorescences, four stamens, two anterior filaments that are glabrous near the top, pyriform-ovoid capsules, and oblong-cylindrical seeds. However, the new species can be distinguished from R. bottae by its alternate leaves (vs rosette), oblong-ovate leaves (vs oblong to oblong-lanceolate), crenate margins (vs crenate-denticulate), it has sparse, ...
ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is derived from Saudi Arabia, where this species is endemic.
Ali Mohammed Alzahrani, Joana Magos Brehm, Shahina A. Ghazanfar and Nigel Maxted. 2022. Rhabdotosperma saudiarabicum (Scrophulariaceae), A New Species from Saudi Arabia. Kew Bulletin. DOI: 10.1007/s12225-022-10063-y
