ARUM MERYEMIANUM
PROTOLOGUE: Arum meryemianum , published in Bağbahçe Bilim Dergisi 10(1): 33 (2023).
Arum meryemianum Yıldırım sp. nova. Diagnosis: Although Arum meryemianum shows some morphological similarities with Arum concinnatum, Arum maculatum and Arum italicum, its easilly separated these species by its vertical-discoid tuber (in the others horizontal-rhizome); narrower spathe lamina; appendix length less than half of the spathe lamina (longer than half in Arum concinnatum and even the same length as the spathe lamina); appendix yellow (dark brownish-purple in Arum maculatum), dark purple or greenish-purple (yellowish in Arum concinnatum and Arum italicum); longer female flower region (shorter in Arum concinnatum and Arum maculatum); pistilodes yellow (purple in Arum concinnatum and Arum maculatum); anthers purple (yellow in Arum italicum); staminodes 4-7 rows and yellow (3-5 rows and purplish in Arum concinnatum and Arum maculatum). Type / Tip örneği: TÜRKİYE. Osmaniye: Amanoslar’ın güneyi, Osmaniye yakınları, bozulmamış eski bahçe içleri ve kenarları, 37o 03’ K, 36o 16’ D, 180 m, 20 v 2022, M. Çelik (holo.: EGE 43779!; izo.: EGE 43780!).
DISTRIBUTION: Türkiye: Türkiye.
SPECIES DESCRIPTION:
Erect, perennial, tuberous herb. Tuber discoid, 1.5–2.5 × 2.5–5 cm, with offspring. Petiole cylindrical, 20–50 × 0.6–1.1 cm, pale yellowish-white. Leaf-blade hastate to sagittate, acute at apex, 9–32 × 7–23 cm, dark green.
INFLORESCENCE:
Peduncle shorter than petiole, cylindrical, 8.5–22 × 0.7–1.2 cm, dark green to yellowish green. Spathe 20–30 cm long; spathe tube cylindric, 3.5–5 cm long, outer surface pale green, slightly purplish at margins, inner surface pale yellowish-green with slightly purplish at apex; lamina elliptical-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 16.5–25 × 3.5–5.5 cm, outer surface pale green, slightly purplish at margins, inner surface pale yellowish-green. Spadix 1/3 – 1/2 as long as spathe, 10–15 cm long; appendix clavate, 7–11.5 × 0.5–0.9 cm, yellow, dark purple, sometimes green-purple; stipe 1.5–2 × 0.4–0.6 cm, yellow to purple. Staminode zone 6–8 mm long, with 4–7 whorls; bristles filiform, bases conic, 4–6 mm long, yellow. Interstices: 1–4 mm long between staminal flowers and pistilodes, whitish-yellow; 1–2.5 mm long between staminodes and pistillate flowers whitish-yellow. Staminate flowers zone cylindric, 4–7 × 10–13 mm, with 4–9 whorls; anthers 0.5–0.7 mm long, dark purple, connectives cream to dirty white; pollen dirty white to yellowish. Pistilodes zone 2–3 mm long, with 2–3 whorls; bristles filiform, bases conic, 4–7 mm long, yellow. Pistillate flowers zone cylindric, 15–25 × 12–15 mm, with 7–13 whorls; ovary 1–2.5 mm long, pale green; stigma slightly purplish. Fruit swollen cylindric, red at mature stage.
ECOLOGY:
Forest openings, under bush and maquis, also on garden edges; altitude: 150-750 m
DISTRIBUTION MAPS:
ETYMOLOGY:
Named in honour of Meryem Çelik, mother of the third author, the amateur botanist Mehmet Çelik.
REFERENCES:
1. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Arum meryemianum
2. Bağbahçe Bilim Dergisi 10(1): 33 (2023) — protologue.
3. iNaturalist: Arum meryemianum
4. Corazza, C., & L.Cortopassi 2026. Arum brunneoviolaceum (Araceae), a new species from Central Turkey.