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Aristolochia lutea Desf. and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, new plant species of
subalpine Albanian ecosystems
Proceedings of International Conference of Ecosystems(ICE), June, 4-6, Tirana, Albania 577
ARISTOLOCHIA LUTEA DESF. AND ARISTOLOCHIA ELONGATA (DUCHARTRE)
NARDI, NEW PLANT SPECIES OF SUBALPINE ALBANIAN ECOSYSTEMS
Lulëzim SHUKA1 & Sadik MALO2
1Department of Biology, FNS, Tirana University
2Department of Biology-Chemistry, FNS, Gjirokastra University
E-mail: lshuka@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
In this paper A. lutea Desf., and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, as new species from the family
Aristolochiaceae is presented. Other aspects related to several subalpine areas of Albania are described, too.
Morphological characters of A. lutea were discussion and compared with it’s closely relatives Aristolochia
elongata (Duchartre) Nardi reported on several habitats of South Albania. As the other species like
Aristolochia merxmuelleri Greuter & Mayer, A. lutea is a member of the Aristolochia pallida aggregate.
Ecological data in growing habitat and area of distribution overall the country is given and mapped. Along
with A. lutea, in its distribution habitat are recorded several important species for the Albanian flora like:
Campanula hawkinsiana Hausskn. et Heldr., Alkanna graeca Boiss. & Spruner, Alkanna scardica Griseb.
Viola acrocerauniensis Erben, Viola raunsiensis W.Becker & Košanin, Fritillaria thessala subsp. jonica
(Halacsy) Kamari, Fritillaria orentalis Adams, Orchis pauciflora x Orchis quadripunctata etc.
Keywords: Aristolochia lutea, A. elongata, new species, subalpine ecosystems, important species
INTRODUCTION
The genus Aristolochia (Aristolochiaceae) consists of about 500 species, growing mostly in tropical and
subtropical areas (Neinhuis et al., 2005). The Mediterranean region, including Turkey, Caucasus and Near
East, comprises more than 60 species of Aristolochia, which are monophyletic based on molecular
phylogeny (de Groot, et al., 2006; Wanke, 2006). They occur in different type of habitats, particularly in
subalpine humid or semidry grasslands.
Mediterranean climate as influenced also in differentiation of morphological characters and adaptation of
Aristolochia species to substrate, mostly in limestone. Most of species are geophyte, which allow them to
pass the dried summer period in dormancy whereas the growth including flowering, in spring time (Wanke,
2006; Costa, 2008). The west Mediterranean Aristolochia species, based on chromosomal numbers,
according to Ball (1964) and Mayer & Greuter (1985) are grouped in 4-species complex: A. rotunda, A.
sempervirens, A. fontanessii and A. pallida complex.
The flora of Albania includes 5- Aristolochia species, from which A. pallida complex is represented with
only one species, A. pallida. On the other hand Aristolochia merxmuelleri Greuter et E. Mayer, from this
complex, were described recently by Shuka et al., (2011). The rest of species, included in the flora of
Albania, according to Paparisto et al., (1988) are: A. clematis, A. longa, A. macedonica and A. rotunda. Here
after we are described and two other species, which can be considered as new for the Flora of Albania.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
During years 2007-2010, the authors of this paper have carried out many field works in South Albania. In the
mean time, the first author has undertaken additional field works over all the country, where hundreds
specimens are collected and herbarised. Voucher specimens are deposited in national herbarium of Faculty of
Natural Sciences, Tirana University and in private herbarium of the first author. Morphological and
ecological data in the growing locality are recorded. The coordinates were recorded with the aid of GPS Alan
Map 500. The diagnostic features measurements of the morphological characters of the new species were
taken from measurements of 15-living plants. Special attention in plant collection and measurements is
indicated to the form and size of tuberous rootstock system. The new species were defined based on Flora of
Albania (Paparisto et al., 1988), Flora Hellenica (Strid & Kit Tan, 1977) Nardi (1989) and Flora Europaea
(Tutin et al., 1964). The data, collected in field are analysed and compared with data’s taken from literature
Aristolochia lutea Desf. and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, new plant species of
subalpine Albanian ecosystems
Proceedings of International Conference of Ecosystems(ICE), June, 4-6, Tirana, Albania 578
and herbarised specimens from Botanical MuseumBerlin-Dahlem. Description of new species is illustrated
with photos and their distribution is mapped.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
On the 23 May of 2009, authors were in the field work in the area of Pogoni, Gjirokastra District. The aim of
this expedition was to study the plant diversity of this area, in the frame of PhD thesis of S. Malo.
Hundred meters, above the Poliçani Village, just to the old spring of the village, we observed the new
species, A. lutea, un-described before for the flora of Albania.
Aristolochia lutea Desf. (in Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 10: 295, 1807)
Syn. A. attica Lojac.
Syn. A. croatica Horvatic.
Location: Above Poliçani Village, on May 15, 2009, at the side of pebbly limestone of the delta created from
the tributary of Nemërçka Mountain. The species was observed at the altitude from 800 up to 1200 m and
coordinates N 400 07’; E 0200 21’. New species occurs in shadow, bare limestone rocks, at margins of
thermophilous oak woods, including Cercis siliquastrum and Pinus nigra cultivated woods. It is well-
adapted in highly-drained limestone substrates with shallow soil layer. Together with A. lutea above Poliçani
village we have observed two other important species for the flora of Albania: Campanula hawkinsiana
Hausskn. et Heldr. and Orchis pauciflora x Orchis quadripunctata, which are not reported before from this
region.
Figure 1. Aristolochia lutea in its natural habitat. A -habit, B -flower and C -rootstock
Species description: Perennial with rootstock globose, 3–4 × 3–4 cm diam. with several stems, erect, 20-30
cm, simple or several. Leaves cordate or triangular, glabrous in both sides, rare puberulous, petiole 2–18 mm,
petiole almost as much as pedicel, 5–15 mm long, blade 30–60 × 30–55 mm. Flowers solitary, perianth green
or greyish, sometimes violet to brown, particularly in higher altitudes, 40–65 mm including limb and utricle,
utricle 8–12 mm, pitcher-shaped, tube straight, 3–4 cm long. Limb clavate, green or with a brown to black
Aristolochia lutea Desf. and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, new plant species of
subalpine Albanian ecosystems
Proceedings of International Conference of Ecosystems(ICE), June, 4-6, Tirana, Albania 579
blotch in inner part, particularly in throat which is covered within with brown cilia, equalling with tube,
lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, 1–1.5 cm long two to three time shorter than the tube. Capsule 3 × 1.8
cm, elongated or elipsoid form dehiscing from apex. Flowering April (rare at the end of March) and fruiting
in May or June (Fig. 1).
Other specimens collected: New finding of A. lutea in Poliçani Village, Zagoria Valley were following by
several other sites, like in: Llogora Pass, 25 May 2008, altitude 1150 m, in limestone substrate; Pass of Plum
(Qafa e Kumblles), above Kalimashi tunnel, 14 May 2010, altitude 1300 m, in serpentine substrate; along the
road to Razëm Village, 24 May 2010, altitude 800 m, in limestone substrate; Munella mountain, 21 Aprill
2011, altitude 1100-1350 m, in serpentine substrate.
Distribution of A. lutea: Acording to Strid & Kit Tan (1997) A. lutea is an widespread species begining from
Anatolia to SE Europe, including almoust all of the Balkan countries.
The grassland ecosystems in Pass of Plum, Kukesi district, were A. lutea accurs are habitats and for
subendemic species like Alkanna scardica Griseb. Viola raunsiensis W. Becker & Košanin and Fritillaria
orentalis Adams. In limestone grassland of Llogora Pass can be found also two endemics taxa: Viola
acrocerauniensis Erben and Orchis pauciflora x Orchis quadripunctata. Other important species growing in
this mountain are Fritillaria thessala subsp. jonic (Halacsy) Kamari and several endangered orchids species
of the genus Ophrys and Orchis.
Figure 2. Aristolochia elongata in its natural habitat. A -habit, B-flower and C-rootstock
The new records overlap the distribution habitat of A. Elongata, mentioned by Nardi (1989) in south
Albania. The species is reported based on the collection of F.K Meyer during his visit in Dhembeli and
Nemërçka Mountain ranges, on first of May, 1960 and collection of Alston and Sandwith, in subalpine
grasslands of Çajupi Mountain, above Zheji village, on June 11, 1933. Both species are collected in altitudes
from 700 up to 1600 a.s.l, and in the same habitat type where our collection is observed.
In fact, morphologically A. lutea and A. elongata are very similar and sometimes they have similar growing
habitat, so it is very difficult to distinguish them. The most distinctive futures among them is form of
Aristolochia lutea Desf. and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, new plant species of
subalpine Albanian ecosystems
Proceedings of International Conference of Ecosystems(ICE), June, 4-6, Tirana, Albania 580
rootstock, almost globose to the first and elongated or oblong to cylindrical to the second one. As above is
with interest to emphasizes that E. Nardi has not been in Albania and we did’t know if the vouchers of Meyer
and Alston together with Sandwith, have tuber or only the areal parts of the plants.
To solve this controversy, we have dug up about 10-plant tubers above Poliçani location and all of them were
globose. On the other hand, we have not seen the collection of Meyer and Alston & Sandwith and did not
observe A. elongata species in the Gjirokastra Mountains, in despite of several field trip carried out during
years 2005-2010. The presence of both species in Gjirokastra and Permeti districts, still unclear. Regardless
of the above, during a field work in Gjergjevica Valley, Korcha district, on 7 May 2009 and 12 April 2010,
the presence of Aristolochia elongata in this area was recorded.
Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi. (in Webbia 38: 94, 1984).
Syn. A. pallida var. elongata.
Syn. A. attica Lojac.
Location: Gjergjevica Valley, on open shallow soil of serpentine substrate or shadow places of Buxeto-
Festucopsidetum serpentini plant communities. The most abundant woody plants where A. elongata occurs
are: Buxus sempervirens, Pinus nigra, Juniperus communis, Juniperus oxycedrus and Fraxinus ornus. A.
elongata as much as in the case of A. lutea grows in altitude 1000 up to 1300 m a.s.l and coordinates N 400
35’; E 0200 34’. It is well adapted to the dry serpentine habitats, having a early spring vegetation life cicle
and passing the dryed summer in dormance.
Species description and distribution: Perennial, rootstock elongated to fusiform or cylindrical, 10 × 25 mm
in diam. Stems erect or subterranean, 10–20 cm, simple and several for each tubers. Leaves cordate or
reniformes, slightly puberulous in both sides, petiole 2–15 mm, petiole longer than pedicel, 2–10 mm long,
blade 30–50 × 20–35 mm. Flowers solitary,
perianth green or yellowish, sometimes tinged
violet to brown, narrow below and gradually
broadened above, 30–50 mm including limb and
utricle. Limb similar to that of A. lutea but
narrower. Capsule 3 × 1.8 cm, elongated, prickly
or pear shaped, dehiscing from apex, seeds 3-4 x
3 mm, brown or brown to black. Flowering April
and fruiting in May to June (Fig. 2).
A. elongata was companied in its growing habitat
with plants that are adapted to the ophiolithic
substrate. The most common endemic and sub
endemic associated species are: Haplophyllum
boissieranum Vis. et Pancic, Polygonum
albanicum Jav., Silene schwarzenbergeri
Halacsy, Lilium calcedonicum L., Festucopsis
serpentini (C. E. Hubbard) Melderis, Arenaria
conferta Boiss. subsp. serpentini (A. K. Jackson)
Strid, Thymus teucrioides Boiss. & Spruner,
Centaurea ptarmicifolia Halacsy ex Hayek,
Minuartia baldaccii (Halacsy) Mattf. subsp.
baldaccii and Campanula hawkinsiana.
Distribution: A. elongata is distributed in
limestone and ophiolitic substarates of Greece
and South Albania.
Other specimens seen: Determination of our
collected specimen is done with similar
specimens deposited in Herbarium of Botanic
Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem,
Freie Universität Berlin
(ww2.bgbm.org/herbarium/Access.cfm).
Figure 3. Distribution of A. lutea and A. elongate in
Albania
Aristolochia lutea Desf. and Aristolochia elongata (Duchartre) Nardi, new plant species of
subalpine Albanian ecosystems
Proceedings of International Conference of Ecosystems(ICE), June, 4-6, Tirana, Albania 581
Specimens seen from this virtual herbarium are listed below.
A. elongata. Greece: Nomos Kozanis, SO Siatista. 17.04.2002, Leg.: E. Willing 141; Nomos Grevena. N
Dhafnero, 17.04.2002, Leg.: E. Willing 171; Nomos Grevena. W Mavranei. 18.04.2002, Leg.: E. Willing
196; Nomos Preveza. 0,3 km S Pende Pigadhia. 27.05.1994, Leg.: E. Willing 71d; Nomos Trikala. 2,4 km
NO Koniskos. 29.04.2000, Leg.: E. Willing 232; Nomos Etolia-Akarnania. 5,0 km S Monastiraki.
23.05.1991, Leg.: E. Willing 315c.
A. lutea. Italy: Grojna bei Görz [Val Grojna, Gorizia]. 3/1873, Leg.: Glow s.n; 18.06.1957, Leg.: G. K.
Schulze-Menz & F. Knoll 171; Volosca. 25.3.82, Leg.: Hutchy s.n.
Croatia: Opcina. 11.04.1897, Leg.: M. Hellweger s.n.; Pola. 22.05.1899, Leg.: K. Hutchy s.n.; Recinathal.
13.04.1881, Leg.: Hutchy s.n.; Fiume. 16.04.1881, Leg.: E. Witting s.n.
Slovenia: Adelsberg [Postojna]. 08.06.1908, Leg.: J. F. N. Bornmüller s.n.; Divaca. 5/1974, Leg.: D.
Baumbach s.n; 22.05.1955, Leg.: Tone Wraber s.n.; Divaca. 5/1974, Leg.: D. Baumbach s.n.
Romania: Kronstadt, am Kl. Stangenstein. Alt.: 750 - 800 m. 1.7.1912, Leg.: J. F. N. Bornmüller s.n. Notes:
"im Gebiet s. selten"
Macedonia: 5.5.1918, Leg.: J. F. N. Bornmüller 4908.
Conclussion
• The records of two Aristolochia species within Albanian territory make the subalpine grasslands and
mountain fascies important sites for the species of this genus. Two species of the Pallida complex:
A. elongata (Duchartre) Nardi and A. merxmuelleri Greuter et E. Mayer, are new for the Flora of
Europaea as Albanian sub endemics.
• Natural dry grasslands and scrubland fascias on calcareous or ophiolithic substrates of Aristolochia
lutea and A. elongata are important sites and for other endemics and sub endemic species.
• Definition of this two new species comprises a contribution for the flora of Albania and the floristic
composition of subalpine grassland habitats of the country.
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