Ferulago turcica Hamzaoğlu, 2025

Hamzaoğlu, Ergin, 2025, A new species of Ferulago (Apiaceae) from Türkiye, Phytotaxa 682 (3), pp. 251-258 : 252-254

Ferulago turcica Hamzaoğlu , sp. nov. (sect. Eutaenia Bernardi ) ( Figs. 1–4 , Table 1)

Diagnosis:— Ferulago turcica is related to F. setifolia K. Koch (1842: 358) . It differs from Ferulago setifolia , mainly by blades of basal leaves triangular in outline and 3-pinnatisect (not linear-lanceolate and (3-)4-pinnatisect); terminal lobes of basal leaves 1–3 mm long and apiculate at apex (not 5–8(–12) mm long and setaceous-filiform at apex); bracts are oblong and 7–9 mm long (not linear-lanceolate and 7–17 mm long); pedicels 9–14 and 3–6 mm long (not 8–10 and 7–11 mm long); mericarps are 9–11 mm wide and broadly obovate-elliptic (not 7–8 mm wide and oblong-elliptic); dorsal vittae 18–22 (not 11–14); epicuticular wax on the seed body sparsely irregular, and nonentire platelets (not dense irregular, and nonentire platelets) ( Table 1).

TYPE:— TÜRKİYE. Erzurum: Horasan, NE of Hızırilyas Village , c. 2020 m a.s.l., mountain steppe, rocky slopes, 13 August 2023, E.Hamzaoğlu 8149 (with immature mericarps, holotype GAZI; isotype ANK) .

Description:― Glabrous perennial herbs, 80–130 cm tall with in divided rootstock and vertical root. Stems terete, sulcate, branching mainly in upper parts, solid. Basal leaves several, petioles 6–11 cm long, blades triangular in outline, 3-pinnatisect, 9–21 × 3–6 cm, primary segments sessile, terminal lobes linear, 1–3 × 0.2–0.4 mm, apiculate at apex. Cauline leaves similar but diminishing to apex; upper transformed to bracteiform ones with oblong-lanceolate. Synflorescence paniculate-corymbose, broad, several branched, lower alternate, upper pseudo-verticillate, both in axils of oblong-lanceolate synflorescence bracts. Central umbels broader (7–10 cm diam.) than laterals (4–6 cm diam.), with shorter peduncles. Lateral synflorescence bracts (paraclades) long, sessile, simple, their lateral umbels (at branches of third order) sterile. Bracts 4–6, oblong, acute to acuminate, 7–9 × 1.5–3.1 mm, herbaceous, straw-coloured to yellowish green, with narrow membranaceous margins towards base; rays 7–14, 2–4.5 cm long, unequal. Bracteoles 4–6, similar to bracts, oblong-lanceolate, herbaceous, 2–4 × 0.9–1.4 mm; pedicels 9–14, subequal, 3–6 mm long. Petals yellow, oblong-ovate, entire, within flexed tip. Stylopodia low-conical, undulate at margin, styles reflexed, c. 1 mm long. Mericarps 11–17 × 9–11 mm, broadly obovate-elliptic, compressed dorsally; dorsal ribs 0.6–0.8 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute; lateral ribs 2.3–3.1 mm long, flattened, obtuse; seed width narrower than 1/3 of mericarp width; dorsal vittae 18–22 and commissural vittae 10–12.

Distribution and habitat: —Specimens of Ferulago turcica were collected from NE of Hızırilyas Village (Horasan District, Erzurum Province). The species is estimated to grow on rocky slopes in mountain steppes, between 1900 and 2100 m a.s.l. There are many mountain steppes and rocky slopes around Horasan District in Erzurum Province. While ecological conditions in these areas suggest the potential for taxon distribution, the absence of documented occurrences necessitates further investigation.

Phenology:— Flowering time July‒August, fruiting time August‒September.

Etymology:— The epithet is derived from the name Türkiye ( Ferulago turcica ).

Paratypes: — TÜRKİYE. Erzurum: Horasan, NE of Hızırilyas Village , near TANAP line, c. 2020 m a.s.l., mountain steppe, rocky slopes, 04.09.2023, E.Hamzaoğlu 8164 (with mature mericarp, GAZI, ANK, HUB) ; 42 km NW of Erzurum, Serçeme Stream , 1930 m a.s.l., 08.07.1976, A.Tatlı 4702 ( HUB 18267 !) ; between Erzurum and İspir, E of Rizekent Village, Hanboğazı Stream , 2250 m a.s.l., 14.08.1976, A.Tatlı 5314 ( HUB 18274 !) .

Taxonomic notes:— The genus Ferulago , section Eutaenia , received its first comprehensive treatment within the flora of Türkiye in Volume 4 of Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands ( Peşmen 1972), although one of the eight species documented within this section for Türkiye was classified under sect. Ferulago ( Özhatay & Akalın 2000, Akalın Uruşak & Kızılarslan 2013). The moment the Ferulago turcica was seen for the first time, the most interesting aspect was that it had short terminal lobes of basal leaves, 3–6 mm long pedicels, 7–9 mm long bracts, and 9–11 mm wide mericarps. In addition, Ferulago turcica differs from F. setifolia in terms of epicuticular wax on the seed body, anticlinal cell walls, and testa epidermal cell shape (conspicuous, inconspicuous some areas versus inconspicuous) ( Barthlott 1981, Barthlott et al. 1998, Koch & Barthlott 2006, Sağıroğlu & Duman 2023) ( Table 1, Figs. 1-3 ).

Information on the morphology and anatomy of Ferulago setifolia mericarp was obtained from the literature ( Akalın Uruşak & Kızılarslan 2013, Peşmen 1972). The mericarp anatomy cross-section has been rearranged to facilitate comparison with Ferulago turcica . Since the mericarp sections of Ferulago turcica were taken using a razor blade, the anatomy could not be observed in sufficient detail. However, several findings have been sufficient to reveal differences between the mericarp anatomies of F. turcica and F. setifolia . The first noticeable difference is that the lateral ribs in Ferulago turcica are long, thin, and linear, whereas in F. setifolia they are short, thick, and triangular. In addition, the seed widths of these two species also differ. The seed of Ferulago setifolia is approximately 1.5 times the width of the seed of F. turcica ( Figs. 2–3 ). The number of commissural vittae is similar in both species. However, there is a notable difference in the number of dorsal vittae. Despite the narrow seed width, 18–22 (not 11–14) dorsal vittae are found in Ferulago turcica . These vittae are quite small and closely spaced. Another difference is observed in the dorsal ribs. The dorsal ribs are 0.6–0.8 mm long and acute in Ferulago turcica , while they are shorter (0.4–0.5 mm) and obtuse in F. setifolia ( Figs. 2–3 ).

In addition, Ferulago turcica grows in the semi-arid mountain steppes, whereas F. setifolia grows in the moist mountain steppes or rocky slopes ( Peşmen 1972).

Ferulago turcica (E.Hamzaoğlu 8164) differs from F. setifolia (Y.Altan 5688) in terms of epicuticular wax on the seed body (sparsely irregular and nonentire platelets versus dense irregular and nonentire platelets), anticlinal cell walls (conspicuous, slightly sunken versus oftenly inconspicuous), testa epidermal cell shape (conspicuous, inconspicuous some areas versus inconspicuous) ( Barthlott 1981, Barthlott et al. 1998, Koch & Barthlott 2006, Sağıroğlu & Duman 2023) ( Fig. 4 ).

On the basis of currently available information, the taxon is endemic to Türkiye, and when the area of distribution is considered, it is an element of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographic region. The new species grows in eastern Türkiye, unlike the other Turkish species belonging to “sect. Eutaenia ”.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ferulago turcica. A: habit (holotype), B: basal leaves, C: synflorescence.

FIGURE 2. Ferulago turcica. A: synflorescence, B: umbel, C: outside view of the mericarp, D: inside view of the mericarp, E: crosssection of mericarp (the cross section below belongs to another fruit).

FIGURE 3. Cross-section of mericarp.A: Ferulago setifolia (modified from an image in Akalın Uruşak & Kızılarslan 2013); B: Ferulago turcica. cv: commissural vittae, dr: dorsal rib, dv: dorsal vittae, e: endosperm, en: endocarp, ex: exocarp, lr: lateral rib, m: mesocarp, p: pericarp, r: raphe, se: seed, t: testa.

FIGURE 4. Micromorphological characteristics of Ferulago turcica (A1–A3, E.Hamzaoğlu 8164) and F. setifolia (B1–B3, Y.Altan 5688) mericarps by using SEM photographs.