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| Odontarrhena stridii L.Cecchi, Španiel & Selvi, in Cecchi, Španiel, Bianchi, Coppi, Gonnelli & Selvi, 2020. |
Abstract
Odontarrhena is a taxonomically difficult genus of the tribe Alysseae, including a number of critical species complexes in the Balkan Peninsula. One of these is O. baldaccii, which was previously included in the inconsistent taxon Alyssum fallacinum but recently shown to be distinct from it. In this paper, we analyzed the still uncertain taxonomic circumscription of O. baldaccii by a comparative analysis of the population from the type locality in Crete and other populations from mainland Greece, which were previously attributed to A. fallacinum or dubitatively included in O. baldaccii s.l. The results supported the separation of these mainland populations in a new distinct species, here described as Odontarrhena stridii, sp. nov. Plant habit, leaf shape and size and silicle shape were the major distinguishing morphological characters. Molecular data also suggested divergence between the two groups of populations, while supporting their phylogenetic affinity. The two species are diploid schizo-endemics with 2n = 16, allopatric distribution and specialization for serpentine soils. Shoot Ni concentrations well above 1000 µg g−1 dry weight were confirmed for the Cretan population of O. baldaccii and found for the first time in two populations of O. stridii, which is therefore a new hyperaccumulating species of the Balkan Mediterranean flora. An updated key to the Greek Odontarrhena taxa is provided.
Keywords: Alyssum, Balkan flora, Cruciferae, Nickel-hyperaccumulators, Serpentine endemics
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| Odontarrhena stridii (= O. baldaccii s.l.) from Mt. Kallidromo and Sterea Ellas, mainland Greece (a–c) and O. baldaccii s.s. from Mt. Psiloritis, Crete (d–g), showing, respectively: habit (a, d); variability of the leaves of the basal sterile shoots (b, e; in b, the small leaf to the right is seen from below; the other two are seen from above; in e, the right half of the blade shows the abaxial side with denser trichomes); open silicle with seed inside (c, g); petal (f; only O. baldaccii s.s.). Scale bars: a, d = 50 mm; b, e = 10 mm; c, g, f = 5 mm. Original drawing by L. Cecchi |
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| Field photos of Odontarrhena stridii (= O. baldaccii s.l.) from mainland Greece, Kedhros (a, c, e) and O. baldaccii s.s. from Crete (b, d, f) |
Odontarrhena stridii L.Cecchi, Španiel & Selvi, sp. nov.
Lorenzo Cecchi, Stanislav Španiel, Elisabetta Bianchi, Andrea Coppi, Cristina Gonnelli and Federico Selvi. 2020. Odontarrhena stridii (Brassicaceae), A New Nickel-hyperaccumulating Species from mainland Greece. Plant Systematics and Evolution. 306: 69. DOI: 10.1007/s00606-020-01687-3
