Sporobolus turcicus (sect. Crypsis, Poaceae), a new species from Türkiye

Abstract

Some interesting Sporobolus (Poaceae) specimens were collected from Eskil, Aksaray, that have narrow inflorescence, long lower glume and caryopsis. In the careful examination made, the specimens resemble Sporobolus schoenoides and S. borszczowii belonging to the section Crypsis (subsect. Crypsis), but it was determined that it is different from them due to especially some generative characters. These specimens after compared with the closest taxa, it was decided that, it is a new species for science world and was named Sporobolus turcicus. Specimens of the new species grows at altitudes between about 910-920 meters in the dried salt marsh. The size and shape of some organs such as leaf blades (0.6-1.2 mm broad, puberulent to long-pilose inner surface, glabrous outer surface), lower glume (3.2-4.1 mm long), lemma (awn 0.6-0.8 mm long) and caryopsis (ellipsoid, 1.5-2.1 mm long), allow to recognize Sporobolus turcicus from its closest taxa. Here, the description of the new species, comparison with the similar taxa, informative photographs, and some ecological preferences have been given.