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<i>Crocus heuffelianus</i>—A New Species for the Bulgarian Flora from Series <i>Verni</i> (Iridaceae)
oleh: Tsvetanka Raycheva, Kiril Stoyanov, Samir Naimov, Elena Apostolova-Kuzova
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2023-06-01 |
Deskripsi
In the Pirin Mountains, at an elevation of around 1000 m, three populations of a new species of Bulgarian flora from the genus <i>Crocus</i>, series <i>Verni</i>, were discovered. The species was compared to the morphologically related <i>C. veluchensis,</i> and presented with diagnostic morphological and anatomical features. Despite the high degree of morphological similarity, the molecular analysis, which included sequences from all related species (<i>C. cvijicii</i>, <i>C. dalmaticus</i>, <i>C. jablanicensis</i>, <i>C. rujanensis</i>, <i>C. sieberi</i> subsp. <i>atticus</i>, and <i>C. veluchensis</i>), distinguished the Pirin Mountains’ populations, and revealed the closest relationship to <i>C. heuffelianus</i>. Despite the <i>C. heuffelianus/C. verni</i> complex’s uncertain taxonomic status, our findings on the local population, based on morphometric, anatomical, molecular, and geographic analyses, indicate its belonging to the putative allotetraploid <i>C. heuffelianus</i> of south-eastern Europe and the Balkans, and an expansion of its range to the southeast. Given the taxonomic uncertainty and unclear phylogenetic relationships of the taxa in the <i>Crocus vernus</i> complex, we considered it appropriate to accept our taxon as <i>Crocus heuffelianus</i>. So far, only <i>C. tommasinianus</i> Herb. has been found in Bulgarian flora from the <i>Crocus</i> series <i>Verni</i>, but in terms of altitude and morphological features, the species from our collection is close to the Balkan endemic <i>C. veluchensis</i>, which belongs to the <i>C. sieberi</i> aggregate. Morphologically, it differs by the dark, heart-shaped spots on the tip of the tepals, and the presence of one bract. A detailed comparative anatomical analysis between the three species of crocuses from the series <i>Verni</i> in Bulgaria shows discrete differences: the width of the white stripe and lacunar area are good distinguishing features, as are the number of conducting vessels.