Friday, May 3, 2024

[Botany • 2021] What is Muscari massayanum and what is not? Second species born of confusion: Muscari erzincanicum (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae), A New Species from Turkey


Muscari erzincanicum
in Eker, 2021. 


Abstract
In the Flora of Turkey, the taxonomic concept of Muscari massayanum sensu Davis & Stuart was given based on five herbarium specimens and a photograph. In the original study, type location of the species was not specified, but its photograph and brief morphological features were included. In current study, herbarium samples given by Davis & Stuart under the description of the species in the Flora of Turkey were examined, and as a result of field studies conducted at the locations where these samples were collected, it was determined that the aforementioned description included M. massayanum, as well as the later published M. erdalii, and a new taxon yet to be named. As a result of comparative and detailed morphological studies to solve this confusion, a new species, Muscari erzincanicum (Asparagaceae) from Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to M. massayanum and M. erdalii, but differs from both by the flower, fruit and seed characteristics.

Keywords: Anatolia, Anatolian diagonal, Central Taurus, Erzincan, new taxon, seed, taxonomy, Monocots


Muscari erzincanicum. a: habit, b: inflorescence, c: lateral view of the fertile flower, d: apical view of the fertile flower, e: dissected fertile flower, f: infructescence, g: apical view of the capsule, h: lateral view of the capsule, i: dissected capsule, j: seed (illustrated by H. Yeniceli).

 Morphological characteristics of the investigated Muscari species.
 a–c: M. erzincanicum habit, inflorescence and infructescence (İ.Eker 12931 & 12968);
d–f: M. massayanum habit, inflorescence and infructescence (İ.Eker 13013 & 3499);
g–i: M. erdalii habit, inflorescence and infructescence (İ.Eker 13014 & 13049)
(photographed by İ.Eker).


İsmail Eker. 2021. What is Muscari massayanum and what is not? Second species born of confusion: Muscari erzincanicum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), A New Species from Turkey. Phytotaxa. 487(1); 41–55. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.487.1.3