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.
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.
A new subspecies, Ophrys holoserica (Burm.f.) Greuter subsp. shoufensis subsp. novo K. Addam & M. Bou-Hamdan from the Orchidaceae family and related to the Ophrys holoserica group, is found and morphologically described as well as illustrated for the first time in Lebanon. The new subspecies share some main characteristics of Ophrys holoserica but contrasts in many taxonomic and morphological details such as the size of the flower (smaller), color of the labellum (blur yellow from up and very light brow from down), outlook (the whole flower is super fine) and habitat. The study discusses, examines, and offers taxonomic description, pertinent information, and photographs found all over 10 years of field work. It also includes observations, fresh collection, and one holotype.
Significant new species that belong to diverse genera and families were recorded to exist in Lebanon during our continuous non-stop field survey all over the country. The authors gathered some exceptional taxa from distinctive locations and habitats of the country, which were not reported so far in the flora documentation with the exception of Quercus libani, that is regarded as a very atypical species (for Lebanon) discovered for the first time after Post in 1932. The current paper deals with the records Anchusa milleri Lam. ex Spreng, Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) Kuntze., Eminium heterophyllum (Blume) Schott., Euphorbia prostrata Aiton, Euphorbia serpens Kunth, Hypericum olivieri (Spach) Boiss., Kickxia cirrhosa (L.) Fritsch., Lamium macrodon Boiss. & A.Huet, Onosma fruticosum Sm.lder, Plantago crypsoides Boiss., Platanthera holmboei H.Lindb., Potamogeton perfoliatus L., Quercus libani G.Olivier, Rhamnus kurdica Boiss. & Hohen., Tulipa biflora Pall. and Xanthium strumarium subsp. sibiricum (Patrin ex Widder) Greuter. The plants were photographed, collected, dried and herbarium specimens were prepared and deposited in K. Addam's Herbarium AUL University (Lebanon). Their taxonomical and ecological characters as well as their geographical distributions were exhibited. New Taxa (representing 14 genera in 12 families of flowering plants) were recognized with the reference of different floras and recent literature for their authentication. The present study also files them with updated nomenclature, descriptions, and notes on phenology and images for their easy identity.
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