Orchis troodi (RENZ) P. Delforge, Orchis sitiaca (RENZ) P. Delforge and Orchis anatolica subsp. albiflora Subsp. Novo K. Addam &amp; M. Bou-Hamdan, three new rare orchids joined the Lebanese flora

Sabbagh³

2022

Romulea jezzinis K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan sp. nov from Kfar Houneh and Aaramta (Jezzine District) and Romulea libanotica K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan sp. nov from Jabal Niha and Tawmat Niha (Al Shouf District) are nominated as novel species. Not only do the new two species vary from other existing Romulea in terms of taxonomic structures such as (corm, tunic, leaves, shape of the perianth, segment flower, flower tube, style, filaments, anthers, seeds, color of the pollen and others), but they also vary from Lebanese Romulea. They are depicted by cold winters with frequent precipitation as snow (annual rainfall 600-1000ml). Plant material and morphological analyses are done, measurements, colors, and other details given in the description are based on both herbarium and fresh materials. Morphological data were taken from more than 10 specimens of each. Romulea jezzinis; Plant, green with striped funnel-shaped dark blue, violet blue, dark violet-blue or pale blue flowers. Corm, ovoid asymmetrical, with a narrow semicircle shaped bottom protuberance, corm tunic, 2-4 layers, leathery, brown to deep brown, imbricate; leaves, (aerial part) 4-5, linear, plicate, grooved at upper surface, erect, or recurved, one to 3 times as long as scape; basal leaf transverse section, oval-elliptical, grooves are circular to longitudinal elliptical, filament white speckled with blue or violet blue, thick, sometimes little hairy below, anther, white grooved and stripped on its outer and inner face edges by blue or violet blue, style (at perianth segments), blue or violet blue (pale on its bottom third), glabrous, grooved, much longer than stamens, stigma, branching into 3 short, curved strands and each one branches into two (stigma always overtops anthers), seeds, (up to 24 seeds in each capsule), nearly globular to ovate, pale brown to brown, and has a reticulate-foveate surface. Romulea libanotica; Plant green, with funnel-shaped blue or violet-blue striped white flowers, 80-200 mm high. Corm, ovoid, asymmetrical with a semicircle shaped bottom protuberance up to 3 stems can grow from the same corm at the same time, corm tunic, 3-6 layers, leathery, deep brown, imbricate, leaves, 3-8, linear, plicate, grooved at upper surface, erect, or recurved, one to two and a half as long as scape, inflorescence up to 5 flowers; Anther, 3, pale yellow (with dark yellow pollens), linear, grooved, longer than filament, style (at perianth segments), 1, white, glabrous, non-grooved, much longer than stamens, bifid on its last quarter to form stigma, stigma, 3, branching into 6 short, curved strands, overtops anthers; capsule, 1-5, elliptical with direct pedicel, up to 30 seeds in each capsule, seeds, nearly globular to ovate, brown to reddish brown, and has a reticulate-alveolate surface up to 30 seeds in each capsule.. Voucher specimens (Holotypes) are deposited in K. Addam Herbarium Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon. More descriptions, illustrations and notes on distribution and ecology are provided inside the publication. Purpose of the study: The purpose of the present work is to inspect the morpho-anatomical features of two species of Romulea to attest the discovery of two new world records. The gathered data and captured photographs of these two new species’ fresh samples resulting from this study will be helpful in the morphological descriptions and the works related to the flora of Lebanon. Most of the anatomical findings are obtained for the first time and the results are reliable sources for identifying Romulea’s new taxa.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Romulea jezzinis K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan sp. nov and Romulea libanotica K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan sp. nov (Iridaceae), Two New Species from Lebanon

Addam¹,

Sabbagh³

2022

Crocus baalbekensis K. Addam & M. Bou Hamdan sp. Nov and its three forms (IRIDACEAE), new endemic species and forms from Lebanon, joined the Lebanese Flora

Addam¹,

Sabbagh³

et al. 2019

Crocus baalbekensis K. Addam & M. Bou Hamdan sp. Nov is nominated as a novel species in addition to its three forms from Baalbek District, northeast of Lebanon. The new species resembles Crocus aleppicus and Crocus hyemalis but varies in terms of phytogeography, phenology, and some taxonomic structures such as (corm, tunic, leaves, and shape of the perianth, segment and others). Thousands of this new species were perceived in countless villages in the northern city of Baalbek. It grows in cold semi-arid climates in stony grasslands, tundra where trees are absent. Plant material and morphological analyses were done, measurements, colors, and other details given in the description are based on both herbarium and fresh materials. Morphological data were taken from more than 10 specimens. The flower is 1-6, 30-40mm tall, white, fragrant (Fresia smell), corm oblong conical about 20-26mm x 14-20mm in diameter. Corm tunic 4-10 layers, brown, extended neck 10-20mm, great build-up of old tunics, coarse parallel fibers, not glued together, with cross-links. Leaves 4-12 (present at flowering), green, glabrous, white stripe about 1/4 of leaf keels, Spathe, 3-4, membranous white to pale yellow pipe. Outer perianth segment, 3, oblanceolate, abaxial side is colored by yellow, mottled by dark blue–violet, middle (1 to 3) stripe of dark violates veins continue to the segment, filament, 3, deep yellow, Anther, wide, arrow shape, longitudinally striped in black and yellow. Style 1, deep yellow to orange, sometimes striped by thinner black lines, divided to 3 stigmas, equal or longer than the stamen. Stigma (each one) is branched to 3-6 short strands. Voucher specimen (Holotype) is deposited in K. Addam’s Herbarium Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon, Accession No.: 22-1-17-58-001. The three forms resemble Crocus baalbekensis but differ in the color of the tepals.

New ten varieties and five subspecies of crocus baalbekensis K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan (Iridaceae) endemic to Lebanon added to the Lebanese flora

Addam¹,

Takkoush³

et al. 2019

Fifteen new world record Crocus baalbekensis var. decorus, fluctus, flavo-album, makniensis, youninensis, rasbaalbekensis, rihaensis, shaathensis, shlifensis, tnaiyetensis, subsp. ahlansis, anthopotamus, fakihansis, harbatansis, and rassomensis, joined the Lebanese flora and particularly the Iridaceae family. They were found in Baalbek-Hermel from North Baalbek to Hermel. All of them display C. Baalbekensis but vary in many taxonomic details. The validation for the existence of these new Varieties and Subspecies were verified by illustrated morphologic descriptions and observations were based on fresh materials. More than twenty years of fieldwork and three years of observation, phenology, and exploration of a host of locations, numerous quantities were found varying mostly from ten to more of the new species. Voucher specimens of the plants (Holotypes) were deposited in K. Addam’s Herbarium at Arts, Sciences and Technology University in Lebanon. The goal of this study was to display a comparative account on the anatomical and ecological characters of the 10 varieties and 5 subspecies of Crocus baalbekensis taxa as well as highlight the taxonomical importance of their corm, corm tunic, leaves, measurements, and comparisons of other structural anatomical differences and similarities.