A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CREPIS PALAESTINA ( ASTERACEAE ) FROM TURKEY H

Crepis palaestina subsp. babcockii Inceer & Aksu Kalmuk subsp. nov. (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) is described and illustrated. It grows in shady places and red pine forest in southwest Anatolia, Turkey. The chromosome number of the new subspecies is 2n = 2x = 8. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish C. palaestina subsp. babcockii from morphologically similar taxa C. palaestina subsp. palaestina and C. pulchra are discussed, and a conservation status for the new taxon is suggested. Introduction Crepis L. is a large, critical and taxonomically difficult genus in the tribe Cichorieae of the family Asteraceae. It comprises over 200 species (Bremer, 1994), mainly distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and Africa (Enke, 2009). Ekim (2012) listed 42 Turkish taxa of Crepis, but our recent taxonomic data obtained from revision of Crepis in Turkey indicate that the genus together with the inclusion of the new subspecies described here has 40 taxa in Turkey, of which 8 are endemic. Among the species occurring in Turkey, C. palaestina (Boiss.) Bornm. is one of the rare species and is found only in Manavgat of Antalya province in southwest Anatolia (Lamond, 1975). According to a recent taxonomic review of Crepis, this species belongs to the section Intybellioides Froel. (Enke, 2009). C. palaestina was reported with a brief description from a single locality, which had no completely mature achenes, in the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands (Lamond, 1975). Lamond (l.c.) pointed out that the specimens of C. palaestina in Turkey differed from East Mediterranean specimens in having glandular-pubescent basal leaves. Hence, a detailed taxonomic treatment of this species was necessary. During our field work for the taxonomic revision of Crepis in Turkey, we collected some intriguing specimens of C. palaestina from the Antalya Province. After studying the morphological characters, examining the specimens deposited in the herbaria ANK, BULU, EGE, GAZI, HUB, IST and VANF, and consulting relevant floras and literature (Post and Dinsmore, 1933; Babcock, 1947; Lamond, 1975; Mouterde, 1983), we concluded that the specimens represented an undescribed subspecies of C. palaestina. Material and Methods Plant material The materials were collected in the field from native populations in the Antalya Province, Turkey. Vouchers were deposited in the herbarium at the Karadeniz Technical University, Department of the Biology (KTUB). Corresponding author. Email: inceer@ktu.edu.tr 46 INCEER AND KALMUK Chromosome counts Root tips obtained from the germinated achenes were pre-treated with 0.05% aqueous colchicine solution for 3–5 h at room temperature and then fixed in absolute ethanol-glacial acetic acid (3:1) for at least 24 h at 4C (Inceer and Hayirlioglu-Ayaz, 2007). They were hydrolyzed in 1N HCl at 60C for 12–15 min. Staining was carried out in 1% lacto-propionic orcein for 12–18 h at room temperature and squash preparations were made in 45% acetic acid (Inceer et al., 2016). Five well-spread metaphase plates were used for chromosome counts. Results and Discussion Crepis palaestina subsp. babcockii Inceer & Aksu Kalmuk, subsp. nov. (Fig. 1). Diagnosis: Crepis palaestina subsp. babcockii closely resembles C. palaestina subsp. palaestina, but differs in having glandular-pubescent basal and cauline leaves (not eglandular-pubescent), small ligule teeth (0.2–0.3 mm long, vs 0.4–1.0 mm), corolla tubes (3.25–3.5 mm long, vs. 5.0–6.5 mm), style branches (1.0–1.2 mm long, vs. 1.4–2.25 mm) and achene morphology (not biform). Type: Turkey, C3 Antalya: Manavgat, 10 m, 24 April 2015, Inceer 1142 (Holotype: KTUB!; Isotype: ANK!). Fig. 1. Crepis palaestina subsp. babcockii, subsp. nov. A. Habit; B. Branch with synflorescences; C. Cauline leaves; D. Capitulum from side; E. Capitulum from top side. A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CREPIS PALAESTINA 47 Caulescent annual, 65–120 cm long with short caudex. Stem erect, slender or robust, terete, striate, glandular pubescent above, ± pubescent near base. Basal leaves 15–23×2.0–3.5 cm, soon withering, lyrate-pinnatifid, terminal segment large, reniform, glandular-pubescent, lateral lobes triangular, glandular-pubescent. Cauline leaves numerous, 2.0–8.5×0.5–4.0 cm, lowest similar to the basal leaves, middle ones ovate-lanceolate, acute, sessile, auriculate, glandular-pubescent, upper ones ± bract-like. Peduncles 2.0–7.5 cm long, strict or arcuate, glandular-pubescent below, glabrous above, swollen near base of fruiting heads. Capitula 30–40 flowered. Involucre cylindrical, 11.5–15.0×8.0–9.5 mm, dark green, becoming straminous and indurate in fruit, glabrous or the bracts ± pubescent with pale glandless hairs. Outer bracts 6–8, minute, 2.5– 4.0×0.5–1.5 mm, ovate, acute, pale-margined; inner bracts 10–13, 12–14×2.0–2.5 mm, lanceolate, acute, appressed-pubescent on inner face, sometimes pale-margined, becoming very prominently carinate dorsally and pale spongy-thickened confluent with base. Receptacle areolate, glabrous. Ligules yellow, 16–20×2.0–2.5 mm, teeth 0.2–0.3 mm, corolla tube 3.2–3.5×0.2–0.3 mm, densely pubescent. Anthers 5, coherent along most of their length and forming a tube 3.0–3.3 mm long around style, yellow, tinged green at summit; filament 0.7–0.8 mm long, appendages 0.4–0.5 mm long, lanceolate, acute. Style 7–8×0.1–0.2 mm, dark green below, yellow above, branches 1.0– 1.2×0.05-0.1 mm, dark green, slightly expanded at tip. Achenes triform, straminous, 15–20 striate, outermost (marginal) achene 8.8–9.1×0.8-0.9 mm, ± obcompressed, and lateraly alate, narrowly summit, intermediate achene 8.0–8.4×0.5–0.6 mm, densely spiculate, gradually attenuate upward, with slightly expanded pappus disk, ± dilated at the hollow base, innermost achene 8.1–8.5×0.5– 0.6 mm, striate, gradually attenuate upward, with slightly expanded pappus disk, ± dilated at the hollow base. Pappus white, 4.1–5.5 mm, multiseriate, fine, soft, flexuous, ± persistent, included in involucre. Phenology: April to May. Etymology: This new subspecies is named after Professor Ernest Brown Babcock, who contributed very much to the taxonomy and genetics of Crepis. Distribution and habitat: C. palaestina subsp. babcockii is known only from type locality in southwest Anatolia. It grows in shady places and Pinus brutia (red pine) forest at an altitude of 10 m a.s.l. Conservation status: CR: B1ab (i, ii, iii)+2ab (i, ii, iii). The population of C. palaestina subsp. babcockii in the type locality seems to be small and scattered. It should therefore be regarded as Critically Endangered CR (IUCN, 2014) because of its local distribution and small population size. Additional specimen examined: Turkey, C3 Antalya, Manavgat, 10 m, 29 May 2014, Inceer 1086 (KTUB!). Taxonomic and cytological notes: C. palaestina subsp. babcockii is also closely related to C. pulchra which is distributed in other regions of Antalya, and thus they are sympatric on this region. C. palaestina subsp. babcockii can be easily distinguished from C. pulchra by the shape of fruits (achene-cypsela). C. palaestina subsp. babcockii has lyrate basal leaves with a large terminal lobe, whereas C. pulchra has the basal leaves denticulate to runcinate-pinnatifid (Table 1). The present study reveals that C. palaestina subsp. babcockii is a diploid taxon with 2n = 2x = 8 chromosomes (Fig. 2). This taxon has the same chromosome number with the members of the section Intybellioides such as C. palaestina subsp. palaestina, C. reuteriana, C. pulchra, C. stojanovii and C. pterothecoides (Babcock, 1947). 48 INCEER AND KALMUK Table 1. Comparison of the diagnostic characters of Crepis palaestina subsp. babcockii subsp. nov., C. palaestina subsp. palaestina and C. pulchra. Characters C. palaestina subsp. babcockii subsp. nov. C. palaestina subsp. palaestina C. pulchra Basal leaves Lyrate-pinnatifid, terminal segment large, reniform, glandular-pubescent Oblanceolate, obtuse or subacute, lyrate-pinnatifid, terminal segment large, oblongcordate to reniform, eglandularpubescent Oblanceolate or obovate, denticulate to runcinately dentate or pinnatifid, on both sides pubescent Cauline leaves (middle ones) Ovate-lanceolate, auriculate Mostly lanceolate, runcinatepinnatifid, broadly auriculate Lanceolate, denticulate to subpinnatifid, subamplexicaul, on both sides pubescent, pale glandular hairs Ligule teeth 0.2–0.3 mm long 0.4–1.0 mm long 0.1–0.2 mm long Corolla tubes 3.25–3.5 mm long 5.0–6.5 mm long 4.0–4.5 mm long Style branches 1.0–1.2 mm long 1.4–2.3 mm long 0.8–1.1 mm long Achene forms Triform Biform Biform Outermost achenes ± Obcompressed, laterally alate, narrow summit ± Obcompressed, laterally broadly alate, narrow summit ± Obcompressed, ± attenuate, spiculate, slightly expanded pappus disk Intermediate achenes Densely spiculate, gradually attenuate upward, with slightly expanded pappus disk, ± dilated at the hollow base Absent Absent Innermost achenes Striate, gradually attenuate upward, ± dilated at the hollow base Striate, gradually attenuate upward, conspicously dilated at the hollow base Striate, ± attenuate Fig. 2. Somatic metaphase chromosomes of C. palaestina subsp. babcockii. (Scale bar: 10 μm). A NEW SUBSPECIES OF CREPIS PALAESTINA 49 Acknowledgements The authors thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK Project No. 112T132) for financial support.


Introduction
Crepis L. is a large, critical and taxonomically difficult genus in the tribe Cichorieae of the family Asteraceae.It comprises over 200 species (Bremer, 1994), mainly distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and Africa (Enke, 2009).Ekim (2012) listed 42 Turkish taxa of Crepis, but our recent taxonomic data obtained from revision of Crepis in Turkey indicate that the genus together with the inclusion of the new subspecies described here has 40 taxa in Turkey, of which 8 are endemic.Among the species occurring in Turkey, C. palaestina (Boiss.)Bornm. is one of the rare species and is found only in Manavgat of Antalya province in southwest Anatolia (Lamond, 1975).According to a recent taxonomic review of Crepis, this species belongs to the section Intybellioides Froel.(Enke, 2009).
C. palaestina was reported with a brief description from a single locality, which had no completely mature achenes, in the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands (Lamond, 1975).Lamond (l.c.) pointed out that the specimens of C. palaestina in Turkey differed from East Mediterranean specimens in having glandular-pubescent basal leaves.Hence, a detailed taxonomic treatment of this species was necessary.
During our field work for the taxonomic revision of Crepis in Turkey, we collected some intriguing specimens of C. palaestina from the Antalya Province.After studying the morphological characters, examining the specimens deposited in the herbaria ANK, BULU, EGE, GAZI, HUB, IST and VANF, and consulting relevant floras and literature (Post and Dinsmore, 1933;Babcock, 1947;Lamond, 1975;Mouterde, 1983), we concluded that the specimens represented an undescribed subspecies of C. palaestina.

Plant material
The materials were collected in the field from native populations in the Antalya Province, Turkey.Vouchers were deposited in the herbarium at the Karadeniz Technical University, Department of the Biology (KTUB).

Chromosome counts
Root tips obtained from the germinated achenes were pre-treated with 0.05% aqueous colchicine solution for 3-5 h at room temperature and then fixed in absolute ethanol-glacial acetic acid (3:1) for at least 24 h at 4 o C (Inceer and Hayirlioglu-Ayaz, 2007).They were hydrolyzed in 1N HCl at 60 o C for 12-15 min.Staining was carried out in 1% lacto-propionic orcein for 12-18 h at room temperature and squash preparations were made in 45% acetic acid (Inceer et al., 2016).Five well-spread metaphase plates were used for chromosome counts.
Phenology: April to May.Etymology: This new subspecies is named after Professor Ernest Brown Babcock, who contributed very much to the taxonomy and genetics of Crepis.
Distribution and habitat: C. palaestina subsp.babcockii is known only from type locality in southwest Anatolia.It grows in shady places and Pinus brutia (red pine) forest at an altitude of 10 m a.s.l.
Conservation status: CR: B1ab (i, ii, iii)+2ab (i, ii, iii).The population of C. palaestina subsp.babcockii in the type locality seems to be small and scattered.It should therefore be regarded as Critically Endangered CR (IUCN, 2014) because of its local distribution and small population size.
Taxonomic and cytological notes: C. palaestina subsp.babcockii is also closely related to C. pulchra which is distributed in other regions of Antalya, and thus they are sympatric on this region.C. palaestina subsp.babcockii can be easily distinguished from C. pulchra by the shape of fruits (achene-cypsela).C. palaestina subsp.babcockii has lyrate basal leaves with a large terminal lobe, whereas C. pulchra has the basal leaves denticulate to runcinate-pinnatifid (Table 1).