A new taxon and a new species
In summer 1974, a research team from the University of Patras (professor Dim. Phitos and asst. Styl. Papatsou) located the subspecies Ammophilon of species Limonium graecum on Nisyros, as well as a new species:
i) Campanula nisyria. Limonium graecum (Poiret) Rech. fil. op. cit. ssp. ammophilon Papatsou et Phitos, ssp. nov.
Ammophilon subspecies is a geographically isolated form that differs from other subspecies of L. graecum, mainly because its bracts are fluffy and large, as well as for its unmistakably lance shaped leaves. Secondary distinguishing features of the above subspecies are the multitude of bare lateral buds and sparse cobs.
A cytological test on ammophilon samples taken from the sandy coasts of Yali, indicated a chromosome number 2n=42, meaning that polyploidy is manifested by this subspecies. It is remarkable that this chromosome number is observed in the Limonium gene for the first time.
ii) Campanula nisyria Papatsou et Phitos, sp. nov.
Campanula nisyria is a biannual or perennial. It is wholly covered by long fluff and has a singular bud, 70 cm or longer, occasionally creating thin branches. Leaves at the base of the plant are ovoid with crenated or serrated ends; their length exceeds 22 cm. Campanula nisyria flowers are largely acaulescent; only in rare instances do they feature a rudimentary stem.
They are characteristically grouped in herring bone-like clusters where flowers grow individually or in multitudinous groups. In particular, their flower cup comprises triangular – ovoid sepals, creating small eyelashes at the circumference of the lamella. The corolla comprises large petals grown together in a tube approximately 20 mm long and a diameter of nearly 11 mm in the middle, tailing into small lobes. Corolla color varies from purple to violet. Finally, each flower features a five chamber ovary and five stigmata.
The morphology characters and the geographic expansion of Campanula nisyria indicate a close cognation to the group of species: Campanula lyrata, C. hagielia, C. betonicaefolia, C. sporadum and C. iconia, spread on the eastern island of Aegean and Asia Minor (Phitos, 1965). In particular, there are explicit phylogenetic relationships between Campanula nisyria and the two species mentioned first above, whereas the former could be described as a variation of the latter.
Campanula nisyria is one of the most distinctive elements of Nisyros’ flora.
