Satureja avromanica Maroofi

Satureja avromanica Maroofi

(Figs 1A, B; 3)

The Iranian Journal of Botany 16 (1): 76-80 (Maroofi 2010). — Type: Iran • W Iran, Kurdistan, Marivan to Paveh, Bolbar village; 35°14’22.8”N, 46°17’31.2”E; alt. 830 m; 13.X.2004; Maroofi, Mardani & Moradi 7192; holo-, HKS; iso-, TARI.

PHENOLOGY. — Flowering from early October to late November and fruiting from early November to December.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — An endemic species to W of Iran, Kordestan Province, Auraman valley (Fig. 4B). Rock crevices, dry limestone slopes.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Iran •W Iran, Kordestan Prov., Auraman valley, SW of Bölbar village; 35°14’22.5”N, 46°17’30.7”E; alt. 944 m; 04.X.2017; Mirtadzadini 3028 (MIR) • Ibid.; 35°14’08.5”N, 46°17’36.9”E; alt. 1012 m; 05.X.2017; Mirtadzadini 3029 (MIR).

DESCRIPTION

Non-aromatic perennial, 35-80 cm high. Stems erect or out-spreading, glabrous, lower internodes 20-30 mm, inflorescence internodes c. 5-10 mm. Leaves entire, sessile, conduplicate, linear or linear to lanceolate, attenuate at base, blade tip obtuse or acute, 10-20 long, 1.5-4 mm wide, glabrous with sparsely sessile glands. Verticillasters distant, in lax cymes, mostly 1-2, up to 3 flowered, peduncle up to 3 mm, pedicel c. 1 mm. Calyx green to dark purple, tubular, covered with short scattered white hairs and sessile glands on the outside, 4-6 mm, subulate-triangular, inferior teeth c. 1.7 mm., superior teeth c. 1 mm long. Corolla slender, purplish-lilac, 15-20 mm long, the tube white at base. Stamens included in the corolla tube. Style longer than or as long as posterior stamens, sometimes shorter and up to two-thirds of the tube length. Nutlets elliptic to elongated elliptic, c. 1.5-2 mm long, 0.8-1 mm wide, brown to dark brown.

REMARKS

Satureja avromanica was reported from west of Iran, Kordestan Province, Auraman valley by Maroofi (2010), and later from Turkey as well (Fırat 2015). However, this species was supposed to be an intra-specific variation for Satureja edmondii in Flora of Iran (Jamzad 2012). Here, we consider them as separate species. S. avromanica is distinct and easy to recognize by its verticillasters in lax cymes and corollas with slender tube. In our knowledge, S. avromanica is the only species of Satureja that is not aromatic. It seems that the Turkish specimens reported as Satureja avromanica are actually S. macrosiphonia which also has verticillasters in lax cymes (for more information see remarks under S. macrosiphonia).