Cerastium mahmutkilincii M. Keskin & Karaer 2024, sp. nov.

Cerastium mahmutkilincii M. Keskin & Karaer, sp. nov. (Fig. 1) Type: — TÜRKIYE. Tokat: Erbaa–Boğallı, large flowered, white, prostrate, ht 1’’, 1300 m, 5 July 1967, Tobey 2207 (holotype E!). Diagnosis: — Cerastium mahmutkilincii is similar to C. szowitsii Boiss. (1867: 617) and C. araraticum Rupr. (1869: 234), but differs from both by hairy filaments and sparsely glandular (eglandular hairy in both C. szowitsii and C. araraticum) and multicellular hairy stem indumentum (usually simple hairy in C. szowitsii and C. araraticum). It also differs from C. araraticum by a hairy claw at the base (glabrous in C. araraticum). Description: —Caespitose herb and diffuse perennials. Stems 4–15 cm, more and divaricate, sterile shoots present and prostrate, fertile shoots strict or ascending, with a few celled and long, spreading, white hairs with sometimes glandular heads. Lower leaves 5 × 1 mm, narrowly spathulate, shorter than upper leaves, hairy. The upper surface of the lower leaf is a little shorter than the hairs on the body, but is covered with very small cells; ciliate at the edges; the lower face of leaves subglabrous or glabrous. Leaves 4–6 pairs on stems, 4–10 × 1–2 mm, linear-lanceolate, obtuse, glabrous at lower face, white, long, and a few celled hairs at upper face. Bracts at least membranous at tips or sometimes herbaceous at lower part. flowers single at each bract. Pedicels 5–8 mm, strict and same hairy as stem. Sepals 5–6.5 mm, wide scarious margined, acute, long hairy. Petals 13–15 mm, white, longer and wide than sepals, emarginate to 1/4–1/5; claw hairy. Filaments as long as calyx, linear, hairy at base. Anthers 1.5–1.7 mm, oblong. Ovarium sessile and glabrous. Stylus 5. Mature capsule not seen. Etymology: —This new species named after Prof. Dr. Mahmut Kılınç (Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University) who is undergraduate lecturer of the first authors and supervisor of the second authors. Since a local name could not be identified, the name Bey boynuzotu is proposed as a new Turkish scientific name (Menemen et al. 2021). Distribution, habitat and conservation status:—This new species is only known from type locality where near Mount Sakarat between Tokat and Amasya counties (Türkiye) (Fig. 2). It grows open places, in rocky places at forest margin at an altitude of between 1200–1400 m or more up to 1800 m. The conservation status of the species was recommended as DD (Data Deficient) because the studies conducted at the species’ type address did not collect sufficient data to evaluate the IUCN criteria (2016). Phenology: —July(‒August). Notes:—The new species belongs to the sect. Cerastium subsect. Grandiflora (Borza) M. Keskin based on short stemmed and perennial habit with usually no sterile shoots; stem and leaves usually white-lanate hairy with long crisped hairs (see Keskin & Menemen 2022). An identification key for five species belonging to the subsect. Grandiflora in Türkiye [Cerastium tomentosum Linnaeus (1753: 440), C. gnaphalodes Fenzl (1842: 11), C. mahmutkilincii M. Keskin and Karaer, C. szowitsii Boiss., C. araraticum Rupr.)]. 1. Stem densely lanate, surface no visible or leaves (at least the youngest leaves) and pedicels floccose–lanate ............................... 2 - Stem no lanate and surface visible; leaves (at least the youngest leaves) and pedicels not floccose lanate ..................................... 3 2. Calyx no thick nerved; leaves and pedicels densely lanate (persistent)....................................................................... C. tomentosum - Calyx 3–5 thick nerved; leaves (at least the youngest leaves) and pedicels floccose-lanate (caducous) .................. C. gnaphalodes 3. Filament glabrous, stem eglandular and usually simple hairy, sepal 7–8 mm; petal 15–18 mm ..................................................... 4 - Filament hairy, stem sparsely glandular and multicellular hairy; sepal 5–6 mm; petal 13–15 mm ...................... C. mahmutkilincii 4. Claw hairy, petal 12–18 mm ............................................................................................................................................ C. szowitsii - Claw glabrous, petal 9–12 mm .................................................................................................................................... C. araraticum Specimen examined:— Cerastium szowitsii Boiss.:— TURKIYE, Ağrı: Small Ağrı Mountain, December 1947, Grossheim s.n. (E63.1! [photo]). Artvin: Hatila valley National park, on rock, road side, 559 m, 19 May 2012, Karaer 17305, 18250 & Terzioğlu s.n. (OMUB!); ibidem (KATO18913!). Rize: On the way from Bayburt to İkizdere, after leaving the Yoncalı village after 1–2 km towards Rize, steep volcanic rocks by the stream, 18 July 2016, Keskin, Koçyiğit-Avcı & Avcı s.n. (ISTE114462!); ibidem (NGBB7036!).— ARMENIA, Armenia, Szowits (K000723530!); in monte Kias Armeniae Rossicae, Szowits (G-Boiss00546382!). ARMENIA, Szowits, cotypus? (LE 00989690!); December 1947, Grosheim s.n. (E00989689!); 12 August 1955, Tarspuzaeur s.n. (E00989691!). Cerastium araraticum Rupr.:— TURKIYE, Bitlis: Nemrut mountain, 10 August 1906, Post s.n. (EGE24503!); ibidem (G!); Nemrut Mountain, crater interior, rocky places, 2180 m, 13 July 1956, Birand & Karamanoğlu s.n. (ANK240!); ibidem (ANK248!). Iğdır: Ağrı Mountain, 3352 m, 11 August 1910, Post & Post 8087 (E!); Aralık, Big Ağrı Mountain, above Serdarbulak, 2600 m, 20 July 1966, Davis 46991 (ISTO11858!); ibidem (E!); Aralık, Small Ağrı Mountain, Serdar Bulak plateau, Betula forest, 2300 m, 20 July 1966, Davis 46909 (ISTE56069!); ibidem (ISTO12829!); ibidem (E!); Big Ağrı Mountain, 2400 m, 14 August 1910, Post 2172 (G!); Big Ağrı Mountain, 4350 m, 14 August 1910, Post and Post 1910: 2088 (E!); ibidem (G!); Small Ağrı Mountain, North West plateau, Serdar Bulak, 2420 m, 20 July 1956, Demiriz (ISTF3363!); ibidem (E!).