Ann. Bot.

Fennici 58: 341–346 ISSN 0003-3847 (print)  ISSN 1797-2442 (online)

Helsinki 30 August 2021 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board

Allium mardinense (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from

southeastern Turkey

Mehmet Maruf Balos1, Hasan Akan1*, Hasan Yıldırım2 & Musa Geçit3

1)
Department of Biology, Arts and Sciences Faculty, Harran University, TR-63050 Şanlıurfa,
Turkey (*corresponding author’s e-mail: hakan@harran.edu.tr)
2)
Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, TR-35040 İzmir, Turkey
3)
Nur neighborhood Kamu street, Buluş Apartment, TR-47200 Mardin, Turkey

Received 26 July 2021, final version received 25 Aug. 2021, accepted 26 Aug. 2021

Balos M.M., Akan H., Yıldırım H. & Geçit M. 2021: Allium mardinense (Amaryllidaceae), a new
species from southeastern Turkey. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 58: 341–346.

Allium mardinense Balos, H. Akan & Yıldırım, a new species of Allium sect. Allium,
is described from Mardin Province, southeastern Turkey. It resembles A. aybukeae and
A. enginii but differs from them by several morphological characters, such as its fila-
ment length, inner tepal shape and surface, and anther colour. Diagnostic characters, a
comprehensive description, photographs, and a distribution map of A. mardinense are
provided.

Allium is a taxonomically difficult genus and
has unresolved nomenclatural issues. It is one of
the largest genera in Amaryllidaceae, with more
than 980 species (http://wcsp.science.kew.org).
The genus is characterized by bulbs enclosed
in membranous tunics, terminal umbel, free or
almost free 1-veined tepals (except A. siculum),
often a sub-gynobasic style, and loculicidal cap-
sule with 1 or 2 seeds per loculus (species
of subg. Melanocrommyum have more than 2
seeds per loculus) (Kollmann 1984, Friesen et
al. 2006). In recent molecular studies, Allium
was divided into 15 subgenera and 56 sections
(Friesen et al. 2006). Of these, subgenus Allium
is the largest, comprising more than 280 species,
approximately 114 of which belong in the larg-
est section Allium (Hanelt et al. 1992, Mathew
1996), represented by over 60 species in Turkey
(Friesen et al. 2006). In recent decades, many
Allium taxa were newly described from Turkey,
and the number of species is now approximately
200 classified into 15 sections. Approximately
one-third of those species are endemic to Turkey
(Kollmann 1984, Ekşi & Yıldırım 2019, Ekşi &
Duman 2020).
During field trips in Mardin Province (SW
Turkey) in May and June 2018–2020, the first
author gathered some peculiar Allium specimens.
They clearly belonged to Allium sect. Allium
based on ovoid bulb, linear leaves, campanulate
to ovoid perigon, 3-cuspidate inner filaments,
distinct nectariferous pores on ovary, and ovule
numbers per loculus (Kollmann 1984). Detailed
examination of the herbarium material and rel-
evant floras of Turkey and neighbouring regions,
including Iraq, Iran, and Syria, were also con-
sulted (Boissier 1882, Wendelbo 1971, 1985,
Kollmann 1984, 1986, Mathew 1996, Özhatay &
Tzanoudakis 2000), revealed that the specimens
represented an undescribed species morphologi-
cally most similar to A. enginii and A. aybukeae.
The morphologies of the new species and the
two other taxa were examined using a stereo bin-
ocular microscope. Vouchers of the new species
2 Balos et al.  •  ANN. BOT. FENNICI  Vol. 58
were deposited in the herbaria HARRAN, EGE,
and NGBB.
Allium mardinense Balos, H. Akan &
Yıldırım, sp. nova (Figs. 1–4)
Type: Turkey. Mardin Province, Artuklu Region, Akreste
Pass to Sultançayırı meadows, limestone slopes, 1100 m
a.s.l., 29 June 2019 M. Balos 4354 (holotype HARRAN;
isotypes HARRAN, EGE, NGBB). — ara ypes: Turkey.
Mardin Province Artuklu Region, Zınnar limestone to
Leylak meadows, limestone steppe, 1150 m a.s.l., 2 June
2020 M. Balos 4784 & M. Geçit (HARRAN!); Akreste
Pass to Sultançayırı meadows, limestone slopes, 1100 m
a.s.l., 29 June 2019 M. Balos 4354 (HARRAN!); Mardin to
Diyarbakır 10 km, Akreste Pass, limestone slopes, 1100 m
a.s.l., 12 July 2020 M. Balos 4870 (HARRAN!).
ymology: The species epithet is derived from Mardin
Province, where the species was first discovered.
Bulb ovoid, 0.5–1.5 cm diameter, outer
tunics brown, papyraceous, longitudinal tears
on base; creates a 1–5 cm collar on stem; inner
Fig. 1. Allium mardin-
ense. — A: Habit. — B:
Early stage inflorescence
with spathe. — C: Flower.
— D: Detail of outer sur-
face of outer tepal. — E:
Details of inner stamens
with tepals. — F: Outer
surface of inner tepal. —
G: Outer surface of outer
tepal. — H: Leaf sheath-
ing with scape. — I: Leaf
cross-section. — J: Ovary.
— K: Capsule. — L: Seed.
tunics membranous, whitish; without bulblets;
stem 20–35 cm long, zig-zag to curved, ribbed,
glabrous. Leaves 2–3, flat and channeled, with
inrolled margins, surface glabrous; margin gla-
brous to slightly scabrit at base; as long as or
slightly exceeds inflorescence; leaf sheathing ca.
1/2 of stem. Umbel more or less fastigiate, lax,
(1)1.5–1.7(2) cm diameter, (1.2)1.5–2(2.2) cm
long, without bulbils. Spathe 2.5–4.2 mm long,
1-valved, caducous, cream to pale yellowish.
Pedicel glabrous, unequal, 4–14 mm long; outer
pedicels shorter than inner. Bracteoles present,
joined around outer pedicels. Perigon oblong-
campanulate, 3–4.5 mm diam, 4–5(7) cm long.
Tepals almost equal, outer tepal shorter and wider
than inner tepal; outer tepal 4–4.5 × 2.5–3 mm,
ovoid, oblong-ovoid, concave, densely papillose-
scabrid at outer surface, purplish-green to pur-
plish, middle vein prominent, brown to dark pur-
plish, acute to obtuse-acute at apex; inner tepals
4.5–5 × 1.8–2 mm; like a narrow vase shape,
hooded at apex, glabrous, mid-vein prominent,
ANN. BOT. FENNICI  Vol. 58  •  Allium mardinense, a new species from Turkey 3

Fig. 2. Allium mardinense. — A: Habitat. — B: Habit at early stage at the type locality. — C: Spathe with inflores-
cence. — D: Bulb with tunic (on millimeter paper). — E and F: Inflorescences and flowers with color variations.

pale purplish to pale pinkish-white, glabrous,
flat, obtuse-acute to truncate. Stemens of 2 types,
slightly scabrid at base; outer filament 4–4.5 mm
long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide at base, lanceolate
slightly shorter to slightly longer to outer tepal;
inner filament 3.5–4 × 1.2–1.5 mm, basal lamina
oblong–ovate, 2–2.5 mm long, median cusps
0.75–1 mm long, lateral cusps ca. 1.5–2 mm,
lateral cusps longer than median cusps, not
exceeding perigon. Anthers purple, 1–1.1 × 0.5–
0.75 mm, oblong. Pistil 4–5 mm long; ovary
2.5–2.8 × 1.5–2 mm, ovate, pale green; stylus
1.5–2 mm, white, as long as perigon or slightly
longer. Capsule ca. 3.5 × 2.5–3 mm, globose-
oblong to ovate; valves emarginate; seed black,
2.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide. Flowering in June–
July.
Dis ribu ion an habi a : Allium mardinense
is a local endemic, restricted to the Zınnar region
of Mardin Province, SE Turkey, an element
of the Irano-Turanian phytogeographical region.
Around 300 mature individuals, growing in two
4 Balos et al.  •  ANN. BOT. FENNICI  Vol. 58

Fig. 3. Allium mardinense. — A: Individuals at flowering stage. — B: Individual at fruiting stage. — C: Stamen
details and inner surface of tepals. — D: Outer surface of tepal. — E: Detail of outer surface of inner tepal. — F:
Detail of outer surface of outer tepal. — G: Capsule. — I: Seed. C–I on millimeter paper.

populations 5 km apart, were found in rocky and cies were Allium scorodoprasum, A. sivasicum,
steppe areas (Fig. 3A and B). Associated spe- Hyacinthella siirtensis, Globularia orientalis,
ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 58 • Allium mardinense, a new species from Turkey
Fig. 4. Distribution of
Allium mardinense (star),
A. aybukeae (dot), and
A. enginii (squares) in
Turkey.
Muscari discolor, Orchis anatolica, Pteroceph-
alus strictus, Salvia multicaulis, and Satureja
aintabensis. Grazing and anthropogenic pressure
(conclusion and cultivation) may result in habitat
destraction and a decrease in the number of
reproduction individuals.
Allium mardinense morphologically resem-
bles A. enginii and A. aybukeae, but differs from
them by several characters (see Appendix).
Acknowledgments
We thank Prof. Dr. Neriman Özhatay and Doç. Dr. Mine
Koçyiğit for their support. This work was funded by the
Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
(TÜBİTAK) (project number 120Z165), and the Research
Fund of Harran University (project number BAP-19098).
Finally, we thank Seval Erdem for the drawings.
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6 Balos et al. • ANN. BOT. FENNICI Vol. 58

Appendix. Comparison of Allium mardinense with two most morphologically similar species.

Characters A. mardinense A. aybukeae1 A. enginii1,2

Stem 20–35 cm long, glabrous 12–25 cm long, minutely 10–20 cm long, scabrose
papillose
Stem shape zig-zag curved slightly curved curved, somewhat flexuose
Bulb ovoid, 0.5–1.5 cm narrowly ovoid, 0.5–1.0 mm globose, 0.7–1.5 cm
in diameter in diameter in diameter
Outer tunic brown, coriaceous membranous greyish, thinly membranous
Leaves smooth at margin, sometimes densely scabrid on entire scabrid at margin, surface
slightly scabrit at base, surface glabrous
surface glabrous
Leaf length as long as or slightly shorter than inflorescence longer than inflorescence
exceeding inflorescence
Leaf sheath to ca. 1/2 of stem, glabrous to ca. 1/2 of stem, densely to ca. 2/3 of stem, glabrous
scabrid
Pedicels 4–14 mm long, unequal 2–5 mm long, equal 4–8 mm long, unequal
Umbel more or less fastigiate, lax umbel subglobose, dense more or less conical, dense
Perigon oblong-campanulate oblong-campanulate campanulate
Inner tepals glabrous, longer than minutely scabrid at upper slightly longer andQDUURZHU
outer tepal, vase-like, half, longer than outer tepal, than RXWHU tepalPPORQJ,
hooded at apex hooded at apex 2–2.5 mmZLGH,REORQJ
WUXQFDWH
Outer filament slightly shorter to slightly as long as outer tepal half length of outer tepal
longer than outer tepal
Anther pale purple dark alizarin-magenta yellow
Lateral cusps longer than median cusps as long as median cusps three times longer than
median cusps
Stylus as long as perigon or included included
slightly longer
Capsule ca. 3.5 mm long, ca. 3.0–3.5 mm long, subglobose, 3 mm long,
2.5–3.0 mm wide, 2.5 mm wide, globose-oblong
globose-oblong to ovate, to ovate, valves emarginate
valves emarginate
Distribution SE Anatolia S of central Anatolia SW Anatolia
Elevation (m a.s.l.) 1100–1150 ca. 2090 850–1350

1)
data from Duman et al. (2017), 2) data from Özhatay & Mathew (1995).