Douglasia beringensis (Primulaceae): A New Species from Northwestern Alaska

Abstract

Douglasia beringensis, a new species from the Seward Peninsula in the Bering Strait region of Alaska, is described, illustrated, and compared to its closest arctic allies. A key is provided for the nine species of Douglasia recognized in North America, and a discussion of the Russian and American taxonomic concepts of the genus is given. Douglasia beringensis S. Kelso, Jurtzev & D. F. Murray, sp. nov. TYPE: U.S.A. Alaska: Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Seward Peninsula, Trail Creek Hills ca. 44 km SW of Deering, 65048'37N, 163?23'61W, on calcite marble outcrops, 350 m, 12 July 1992, Murray et al. 10679 (holotype, ALA; isotypes, COLO, LE, MO, US). Figure 1. Herbae perennes caespitosae, pulvinos vel tegetes formantes. Folia superiora rosulata, erecta, varie linearia vel anguste oblonga, 5-8 mm longa, 1-1.5 mm lata, pilis stellatis et ramosis in facie superiore et inferiore, apice plus minusve revoluto. Pedunculi floriferi 1.0-10.0 mm, fructiferi usque ad 6 cm longi, pilis brevibus ramosis et stellatis tecti. Inflorescentia uniflora (rarissime biflora), involucrata; bractea plerumque 1. Calyx et bractea dense pubescens pilis stellatis et ramosis. Corolla juvenalis rosea, postea albescens, tubo 3-4 mm, limbo ca. 5 mm. Semina 1-4, castanea, quadrata vel oblongata, ca. 2 mm x 1 mm. Herbs perennial, in loosely caespitose cushions or mats, with branched caudex and slender tap root 'The transliteration of this surname from the Russian varies. The currently accepted spelling, and the one the author prefers, is Yurtsev; previous transliterations have adopted the spelling Jurtsev, and this was the one included by Brummit & Powell in Authors of Plant Names (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: 1992). with numerous filiform adventive roots. Stems prostrate to ascending, with imbricate, reddish, marcescent leaves below and terminal green leaf rosettes above, leaves on lower part of annual shoot usually ? remote. Leaves prominently ascending, linear to oblong, obtuse to slightly acute, 5-8 x 1-1.5 mm, densely covered with minute branched hairs on both surfaces, slightly revolute at apex, margins entire. Peduncles 1.0-10 mm in early anthesis, elongating to ca. 6 cm in fruit, densely pubescent with branched and stellate hairs throughout. Inflorescences involucrate; bract single or occasionally lacking, lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate, acute, 2-3 x 0.5-0.75 mm, pubescent with stellate hairs. Flowers 1(-2), sessile; calyces broadly campanulate, ca. 4 mm long x 3-4 mm wide, divided to middle, lobes acute to acuminate, ca. 1 mm wide, entire calyx densely pubescent with minute stellate and branched hairs; corollas salverform, constricted at the throat, tube 3-4 mm long, lobes ca. 2 x 1 mm, apex entire, limb pink, turning white in age, 5-7 mm diam. Stamens 5, included, anthers oblong, ca. 0.5 mm long. Style 1.5-2 mm long, stigma capitate. Capsule ovate, slightly shorter than calyx. Seeds 1-4, quadrate to oblong, ca. 2 mm long x 1.5 mm wide, coat chestnut brown, reticulate. Distribution. Known from two locations 8 km apart in the north-central Seward Peninsula near the northeast edge of the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. A third report for Conglomerate Mountain in the Kokrines Hills (64?56'N, 154?42'W) ca. 450 km east of the others is based on a poor specimen at ALA (Miller 1602 in 1926) for which the determination is equivocal. Nevertheless, it does show the distinctive stellate pubescent calyces diNOVON 4: 381-385. 1994. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.184 on Sun, 15 May 2016 06:47:45 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms