Ranunculus magniflorus Dunkel, 2024

Dunkel, Franz G., 2024, Ranunculus magniflorus sp. nov. and R. irregularifrons sp. nov., (Ranunculaceae), two new species of the R. auricomus complex in Romania, Phytotaxa 678 (1), pp. 33-44 : 34-37

Ranunculus magniflorus Dunkel , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1–2 , 5 , 6 )

Type:― ROMANIA. Banat Mts. , Parcul National Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa , Oraviţa , ca. 1,7 km northeast of Ciclova Montană, Gipfelbereich des Berges Simion, Buchen-Hainbuchen-Wald [summit of the Mt. Simon, beech hornbeam forest], 870–900 m a.s.l., 45°02´58”N 21°46‘16”E, 21 April 2010, F. G. Dunkel-25798 (holotype CL; isotypes GOET, M, Du-25798) .

Description:―Flowering shoot slim to gracile, 18–33 cm, stalk 1.0– 3.2 mm in diameter, reddish at the base, suberect to patent, angle between the main and secondary axis 20–70°, flowers 2–7, enrichment shoots 0(–1); basal leaves 1–4(8) per rosette.

Basal leaf cycle: with the exception of the third basal leaf, all basal leaves are undivided, aperture at the base occasionally closed, usually narrow-angled; the leaf edge presents irregularly crenated in the first two, alternately crenate and crenate-serrated in the third to fifth basal leaves, teeth always obtuse or rounded.

First basal leaf 22–35 mm long, blade at the base closed to narrow-angled (0–50°), undivided.

Second basal leaf 26–35 mm long, blade at the base narrow-angled (10–40°), undivided.

Third basal leaf 40–60 mm long, blade at the base closed to narrow-angled (0–50°), undivided or lobed to cleft by main incision (26–50%).

Fourth basal leaf 50–75 mm long, blade at the base narrow-angled (40–70°), undivided.

Fifth basal leaf 45–70 mm long, blade at the base closed to narrow-angled (0–40°), undivided.

Var. magniflorus :―lowermost stem leaf divided into7–9 segments, largest segment 27–58 mm long, oblanceolate, 2–4 mm wide, undivided or occasionally with 1(–2) narrow teeth ( Fig. 1 , 2 , 5a , 6 )

Petals 5, 10–20 mm long, 6–19 mm wide; androclinium 0.6–0.9 mm long; receptacle globose to ellipsoid, 2.0– 2.8 mm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, glabrous, intervallum 20–40%, carpellophores 0.15–0.25 mm long; fruits 1.6–2.2 mm long, 0.6–1.0 mm long, beak straight to uncinate.

Quality of pollen: ―91.5% well developed (isotype Du-25798-5).

DNA-Ploidy:―2x (between Oravița and Steierdorf, Du-40660).

Var. dentatus : ―differs from var. magniflorus by different cauline leaves: largest segment of the lowermost cauline leaf oblanceolate to small deltoid, 3–15 mm wide, with 2–8 short to long patent obtuse teeth ( Fig. 2 , 5b, 5c , 6 ).

Type:― ROMANIA. Banat Mts. , Parcul National Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa, Oraviţa, ene Ciclova Montană, an der Zufahrtsstrasse zum Kloster Calugara, W-exponierter Laubwald [road to cloister Calugara, w-exposed deciduous forest], 350–380 m a.s.l., 20 April 2010, F. G. Dunkel-25785 (holotype CL; isotypes GOET, M, Du-25785) .

Quality of pollen: ―97.2% well developed (holotype Du-25785-1).

DNA-Ploidy:―2x (Paratype, Oravița, Du-41013, Steierdorf, Du-41020).

Etymology:― refers to the large flowers. The incorrectly used name R. grandiflorus L. (1753: 555), e.g. at the exsiccate work of H.G.L. Reichenbach, no. 1286 and 1830ff., is validly in use for a taxon restricted to Eastern Turkey and Northwestern Iran.

Distribution and habitat:― To current knowledge, R. magniflorus is endemic to the Banat Montains close to Oraviţa and Steierdorf (Anina), to the District Craiova near Oltenia, and in Serbia in the surroundings of Majdenpek. R. magniflorus grows in deciduous forests of beech and hornbeam, occasonally at the edge of forests.

Specimens seen:― ROMANIA. District Craiova, Oltenia, inter pagos Bucovăţ et Leamna , in silvis, 100 m, 44°18‘21‘‘N 23°44‘03‘‘E, 04 May 1965, M. Olaru & D. Cîrţu ( BR!) ; Prov. Banat, District Caraș-Severin, Banat Mts., „Orawicza“ Oraviţa , an schattigen Stellen des Berges Simion , April , P. Wierzbicki Flora germanica exsiccata 1286 (BP-62977!, BR!, DR-041280!) ; April, P. Wierzbicki , Flora germanica exsiccata 1830ff ( CL!, JE!) ; Parcul National Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa, Oraviţa, ca. 1,7 km ne of Ciclova Montană , Gipfelbereich des Berges Simion , Buchen-Hainbuchen-Wald [summit of the Mt. Simon, beech hornbeam forest], 870–900 m a.s.l., 45°02’58’’N 21°46‘16’’E, originally found on 21 April 2010, F. G. Dunkel-25798 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel ), cultivated and pressed on 15 May 2010, F. G. Dunkel-26034 (with fruits; herb. F. G. Dunkel) ; ibidem, cultivated plants pressed on 11 April 2011, F. G. Dunkel- 27460 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel) ; Oraviţa, ene Ciclova Montană, an der Zufahrtsstrasse zum Kloster Calugara, W-exponierter Laubwald , 350–380 m, 20 April 2010, F. G. Dunkel-25785 (Herbarium F. G. Dunkel) ; ibidem, ca. 1.2 km ene Ciclova Montană, am Weg zum Berg Simion, Bachauenwald, Waldböschung , 430–470 m a.s.l., 21 April 2010, F. G. Dunkel- 25810 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel) ; ibidem, ca. 2,1 km o Ciclova Montană, an der kleinen Strasse Strada Ciclovei zum Kloster, Hainbuchen-Wald , 350 m a.s.l., 45°01‘38‘‘N 21°45‘17‘‘E, 25 April 2022, F. G. Dunkel-40652 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel) ; ibidem, ca. 1.9 km n Ciclova Montană, oberhalb der kleinen Strasse Strada Ciclovei, Hang-Buchenwald , 350 m a.s.l., 45°02‘31‘‘N 21°43‘38‘‘E, F. G. Dunkel-40589 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel) ; Banat Mts., Oraviţa, zwischen [between] Oraviţa und Steierdorf ( Anina ), no Dealu Rolului (913 m), s der Hochspannungsleitung, nahe Passhöhe , Buchenwald [s of high-voltage power line, close to the highest point of the pass, beech forest], 810 m a.s.l., 45°01‘55‘‘N 21°47‘06‘‘E, 25 April 2022, F. G. Dunkel-40660 (Herb. F. G. Dunkel) .

SERBIA. Okrug Bor, Majdanpek, Nationalpark Đerdap, an waldigen Orten, March 1879, S. Pavlovic (B-100348766!, GOET!, JE!).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of R. magniflorus (CL).

FIGURE 2. Data sheet of Ranunculus magniflorus. Lowermost cauline leaves of var. magniflorus and var. dentatus.

FIGURE 5. Specimens of R. magniflorus and R. irregularifrons. a. R. magniflorus, isotype Du-25798-6. b. R. magniflorus var. dentatus, holotype (CL). c. R. magniflorus var. dentatus, Steierdorf Du-41020-2 d. R. irregularifrons, isotype Du-41007-3.

FIGURE 6. Distribution map of R. magniflorus (var. magniflorus and var. dentatus) (·), and R. irregularifrons (T).