Thursday, April 8, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Allium toksanbaicum (Amaryllidaceae) • A New Species from Southeast Kazakhstan


Allium toksanbaicum N.Friesen & Vesselova, 

in Friesen, Vesselova, Osmonali, ... et Shmakov, 2021.  

Abstract
Allium toksanbaicum from South East Kazakhstan is described as a new species. Molecular markers reveal a close relationship to A. obliquum and some other central Asian species of the section Oreiprason. We investigated the phylogenetic relationship of the new species based on sequences of two chloroplast spacers (rpl32-trnL and trnQ-rps16) and the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The new species is diploid with a chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 16. A detailed morphological description, illustrations and karyotype features of the new species are given. With its falcate leaves, the new species is very similar to A. carolinianum from the section Falcatifolia, but in the shape of the inflorescence and flowers it is very different from it. From A. obliquum it differs for the purple colour of flowers and filaments, as well as the presence of teeth at the base of inner stamens.

Keywords: Allium sect. Oreiprason, chromosomes, ITS, plastid DNA, Monocots

FIGURE 2. Allium toksanbaicum and related species.
A–B, plant habit in Toksanbai range (photo by P. Vesselova); C, plant cultivated in South Siberian Botanical Garden, Barnaul (photo by A. Shmakov); D, perianth segment with stamens and ovary with style (drawn by S. Oevermann, Osnabrueck);
E, A. petraeum in Dzhungar Alatau, Koksu (photo by N. Friesen);
F–G, A. obliquum from Altai and Altynemel (specimens Am874 and Am1095) (photos by N. Friesen);
H, A. kirilovii from Kazakhstan (photo by V. Epiktetov);
I, A. dshungaricum in Dzungar Alatau (photo by N. Friesen);
K, A. carolinianum from Kyrgyzstan (photo by N. Friesen).


Allium toksanbaicum N.Friesen & Vesselova, sp. nov.

 It differs from the closely related Allium obliquum by purple perianth (not yellow), falcate leaves (not oblique), hemispherical and lax inflorescence, rounded bulbs (not oblong ovate) with coriaceous tunics. It differs from A. carolinianum by inner filaments with obtuse teeth at the base (not triangular without teeth), and rounded (not ovoid), bulbs with dirty yellow coriaceous (not brown, leathery) tunics. 

Etymology:— The epithet refers to the Toksanbai range. 

Distribution:— Kazakhstan, Toksanbai range, South Dzungaria Mountains (currently known from the type locality only). 

Ecology:— On the scree slopes in the alpine belt.


Nikolai Friesen, Polina Vesselova, Bektemir Osmonali, Gulnara Sitpayeva, Alexander Luferov and Alexander Shmakov. 2021.  Allium toksanbaicum (Amaryllidaceae), A New Species from Southeast Kazakhstan. Phytotaxa. 494(3); 251–267. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.494.3.1