Monday, January 17, 2022

[Botany • 2022] Cicer appozaicum (Fabaceae) • A New Species from Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan


Cicer appozaicum Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan & Maesen

in Khan, Sultan, Van Der Maesen, Qaiser & Ishaq, 2022.

Abstract
Specimens of a native Cicer were collected from different localities in the Zhob district of Pakistan. It is described as a new species, Cicer appozaicum. It belongs to section Vicioides in the subgenus Viciastrum and is characterized by small flabellate leaflets, coiled simple tendril, very small triangular spinescent stipules often parted into two spinelets, a minute bract, large lilac flowers, rhomboid fruits, beaked rugose to tuberculate and granulose seeds and presence of glandular pubescence on the entire plant, except corolla. Illustrations and a distribution map of the new species are provided. The key to Cicer species in the Flora of Pakistan is amended.

Key words: Cicer appozaicum, Description, Zhob, Balochistan, Pakistan.


Cicer appozaicum Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan & Maesen sp. nov.

Diagnosis: Size and shape of flower and ovary, size of fruits and  glandular  hairs  are  similar  to Cicer microphyllum but differs  by  the  stem  which  is  mostly  flexuous,  fewer  and smaller size of leaflets, flabellate to orbicular leaflet shape, smaller  triangular  stipules  comprising  a  single  tooth  or spinelet or often parted into two spinelets, linear to lanceolate calyx lobes, rhomboid fruits, rugose-granulose seed surface and more densely hairy vestituture. 
Size and flabellate shape of leaflets and flexuous stem are also similar to Cicer mogoltavicum, but C. mogoltavicum has more numerous leaflets, slightly smaller corolla, stipules with  many  teeth,  simple  to  ramified  tendrils  while C. appozaicum has  fewer  leaflets,  larger  corolla  size,  stipules comprising a single or two spinelets and simple tendrils.


 Etymology: The species is named after the historic name of Zhob district ‘Appozai’.



Nazar Khan, Amir Sultan, L. J. G. Van Der Maesen, Muhammad Qaiser and Kamran Ishaq. 2022. Cicer appozaicum (Fabaceae): A New Species from Zhob (Balochistan, Pakistan). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 54(4); DOI: 10.30848/PJB2022-4(3)