Ann. Bot. Fennici 36: 293–298 ISSN 0003-3847Helsinki 14 December 1999 © Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 1999

New Taraxacum species from Finland

Carl Eric Sonck & Hans Øllgaard

Sonck, C. E., Tavastvägen 2 A, FIN-00530 Helsingfors, FinlandØllgaard, H., Lupinstien 7, Birgittelyst, DK-8800 Viborg, Denmark

Received 14 April 1999, accepted 12 September 1999

Sonck, C. E. & Øllgaard, H. 1999: New Taraxacum species from Finland. — Ann. Bot.Fennici 36: 293–298.

The paper describes two new Taraxacum species from southern Finland: Taraxacumglossodon Sonck & H. Øllg. (sect. Ruderalia) and Taraxacum nylandicum Sonck &H. Øllg. (sect. Boreigena), and one new species from northern Finland, Taraxacumporcellisinus Sonck & H. Øllg. (sect. Ruderalia). The species are illustrated in blackand white photographs.

Key words: Asteraceae, Finland, new species, Taraxacum, taxonomy

Taraxacum glossodon Sonck & H. Øllg., sp. nov.(Figs. 1 and 2)

E sectione Ruderalia. Planta magnitudine medio-cris, 30–45 cm alta. Folia lanceolata–late lan-ceolata, olivaceo-viridia,4–5-lobata, petiolis bre-vibus angustis, ± lucide violaceis, nervo medianoinferne sordide violascente, ceterum viridi–sor-dide rubescente. Lobi laterales anguste deltoidei,subacuti,in apicem saepe praelongum anguste li-nearem, ad 20–30 mm longum, saepe valde porri-gentem protracti. Lobus terminalis trilobatus, lo-bulis basalibus longis, contractus et in apicem ple-rumque longissimum acutum abiens, lobulo apica-li interdum ± ampullaceo. Interlobia ad 20 mmlonga, ca. 4–5 mm lata, ± crispata, crasse dentata,viridia vel leviter infuscata. Scapi virides vel levi-ter purpurei, saepe sat dense araneosi, florenditempore foliis aequilongi vel longiores. Involu-crum ca. 15 mm longum, 12 mm latum. Squamaeexteriores late lanceolatae, canescenti-virides, ca.

14 mm longae, 4–5 mm latae, reflexae, marginefere plano non hyalino, apice plano. Squamae in-teriores latitudine inter se fere similes, infra api-cem interdum leviter callosae. Calathium satura-te luteum, 40–50 mm diametro, mediocriter den-sum, convexum, ligulis marginalibus planis, sub-tus stria fusco-violacea notatis, denticulis apica-libus ligularum partim roseis. Antherae pollinife-rae, granis pollinis diametro variis. Stigmata sor-dide lutei–leviter obscura. Achenium ochra-ceo-stramineum, 4.5–5.0 mm longum (pyramideinclusa), supra medium ca. 0.8–1.0 mm latum, su-perne tuberculatum-breviter vel longius spinulo-sum, inferne tuberculatum- ± laeve, in pyramidemsubcylindricam subabrupte abiens. Rostrum 11–12 mm longum. Pappus albus, 6–7 mm longus.

Holotype: Finland. Nylandia, Borgå (Porvoo) munici-pality, Kullo village, at Oljevägen, roadside, 4.VI.1998 C. E.Sonck (H, 726201; isotype H, 726202), and in the privateherbarium of C. E. Sonck). Note: Kullo village is situated12 km WSW of Porvoo (60°21´10´´N; 25°28´57´´E).

294 Sonck & Øllgaard • ANN. BOT. FENNICI 36 (1999)

Distribution. Taraxacum glossodon has beenfound in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, theCzech Republic, and Slovakia, being locally com-mon. A complete list of the T. glossodon loca-tions will be sent by the authors on request.

Taraxacum glossodon belongs to section Ru-deralia. It is a spectacular species which couldnot be passed by without being noticed becauseof its relatively lacerate leaves with purple-col-oured petioles, long and narrow leaf lobe pro-cesses, longish and rather narrow, fairly crispateand densely toothed interlobes, which are occa-sionally somewhat tar-coloured, and endlobeswith a long, narrow, often somewhat bottle-shapedapical lobule. The outer bracts are broad, 4–5 mmor sometimes somewhat broader, ± reflexed. Thecapitulum when in full flower is fairly normal asto colour, diameter, shape and density. Pollen ispresent. The stigmas are discoloured. The achenesare large for the section, ca. 4.8 mm long (includ-ing the 0.8–1.0 mm long cone), with shorter to

longer, rather strong spinules above.Morphologically, the closest species is Tara-

xacum glossocentrum Dahlst. The leaves of thelatter are thinner and more elegant, usually withdeeply cleft lateral lobes, which sometimes looklike the lobes of T. ostenfeldii Raunk. or, whenless cleft, like those of T. borgvallii Dahlst. exHagl. The lateral lobes of T. glossodon are moreirregular. The endlobes of T. glossocentrum onlyoccasionally have an endlobule with rounded lat-eral apices, in contrast to T. glossodon, where thisis often seen. The interlobes of the two speciesare different, mostly flat and green in T. glosso-centrum, crispate and often darkish in T. glosso-don. However, the leaves of both species are vari-able, due to environmental circumstances. Theouter bracts are narrower in T. glossocentrum,usually about 3 mm broad (2–4 mm), whereas inT. glossodon the bracts are 4–5 mm broad or more.The achenes of T. glossocentrum (Fig. 3; meas-ures taken from a specimen, collected in Finland,

Fig. 2. Achenes of Taraxacum glossodon Sonck &H. Øllg. (from the holotype, × 15). Photo by Dr. TuuliTimonen.

Fig. 1. Taraxacum glossodon Sonck & H. Øllg. (holo-type).

ANN. BOT. FENNICI 36 (1999) • New Taraxacum species from Finland 295

Kyrkslätt, H 112370) are shorter (ca. 4 mm long)than those of T. glossodon (see above). Taraxa-cum lacerilobatum Saarsoo has outer and middleleaves shaped almost like T. glossodon. The for-mer however, has far shorter and narrower bractsthan T. glossodon, and large endlobes on the in-ner leaves, which is not the case in T. glossodon.

Taraxacum nylandicum Sonck & H. Øllg., sp. nov.(Fig. 4)

E sectione Boreigena. Planta robusta, magnitu-dine mediocris, 20–30 cm alta. Folia plerumquepatentia, sat curta, obscure glaucescenti-viridia,glabrescentia, petiolis lucide purpureis anguste–sat late alatis, alis etiam purpurei-coloratis, nervomediano viridi vel squalide paene rubro. Foliaexteriora et intermedia plerumque paucilobatacum 2–4 lobis utrimque. Lobi laterales deltoidei,margine dorsali fere recto plerumque integro, pro-ximali fere recto integro. Lobus terminalis longior,late sagittatus basi obliqua, integer vel conspicueincisus, in apicem brevem haud abrupte definitum

protracto. Interlobia superioris partis folii laterotundata, plana vel leviter plicata, viridia. Scapisub involucro araneosi, ceterum glabrescentes.Involucrum subobscure viride, parce pruinosum.Squamae exteriores late lanceolatae, 16–17 mmlongae, ca. 5 mm latae, virides et interdum sordideet irregulariter rubescentes, margine plano nonhyalino, vix corniculatae, ± arcuato-reflexae.Squamae interiores latitudine inter se similes. Ca-lathium ca. 50 mm diametro, luteum, mediocriterdensum—sat densum, planum–leviter convexum,ligulis marginalibus planis, subtus stria sat an-gusta obscure rubro-canescenti ornatis, denticulisapicalibus luteis. Antherae polliniferae, granisdiametro variis. Stigmata virescentia. Acheniumstramineum-cano-brunneum, 3.3–3.5 mm longum(pyramide inclusa), crassum, in parte superiorespinulis mediocriter longis, robustissimis incurvisinstructum, pyramide bene definita cylindrica, lae-vi, 0.6–0.7 mm longa. Rostrum 10–11 mm longum.Pappus albus.

Holotype: Finland. Nylandia, “Nyl., Köklaks, Esbogård, gammal övergiven äng” (= old overgrown meadow),60°11´52´´N, 24°35´08´´E, 31.V.1998 C. E. Sonck, H. Øll-

Fig. 3. Achenes of Taraxacum glossocentrum Dahlst.(from specimen H 112370, × 15). Photo by Dr. TuuliTimonen.

Fig. 4. Taraxacum nylandicum Sonck & H. Øllg. (holo-type).

296 Sonck & Øllgaard • ANN. BOT. FENNICI 36 (1999)

gaard et al. (H 726203; isotypes H 726204 (HØ98-221),and in the private herbaria of C.-F. Lundevall, J. Räsänen(S101,-104,-108), C. E. Sonck., and H. Øllgaard (HØ98-220,-222).

Distribution. Taraxacum nylandicum is onlyknown from the type location, where it was foundin great numbers.

On account of the rather short, broad and ro-bust leaves with only a few leaf lobes, and thelarge outer involucral bracts we have decided toplace this new species in section Boreigena, how-ever with some doubt because the flowerhead di-ameter is somewhat smaller than average for thatsection, and because of the conspicuous ligulestripes. The type specimen represents a lobatemodification among the many other specimensof Taraxacum nylandicum with less lobate, oftenmostly non-lobate, leaves which were found onthe type location. The leaves are dark green witha bluish hue, faintly glabrescent, unspotted, usu-ally patent and thereby exposing the striking redto very lucid purple colour of the petioles. Themidrib is green to dirty reddish, without striatulatepattern. The petioles are strong and broad withnarrow purple-coloured wings. As mentionedabove T. nylandicum is easily recognised by of-ten having almost non-lobate leaves, but often theouter and middle leaves are lobate. Leaf lobes,when well developed, are deltoid and undivided,with straight to concave or irregular upper edge,and almost straight and entire lower edge. Thelateral lobe apex is short and moderately acute.The terminal lobe is longer than the lateral lobes,often with an oblique base and one or two lateralincisions, moderately acute and usually with ashortly protracted tip. The interlobes of upper halfof the leaf are broadly rounded, flat to faintly orirregularly plicate, without blotches. The scapesare only conspicuously hairy under the involucre.The buds are light to dark green, not (or faintly)pruinose. The outer involucral bracts are long, 16–17 mm, and broad, about 5.0 mm, greenish or ir-regularly reddish coloured, rather regularly ar-ranged, with flat edges without a clear hyalineborder, usually with flat tips. They are more orless curved-reflexed. The width of the inner bractsis almost uniform. The capitulum is ca. 50 mm indiameter, moderately to rather dense with a flat to± convex profile. Flower colour is medium yel-low, ligules flat or canaliculate, with yellow teeth.

The ligule stripe is narrower than ligule, faintlyreddish grey. Pollen present. Stigmas are discol-oured. Achenes strawcoloured or greyish brown,3.3–3.5 mm long (incl. cone, 0.6–0.7 mm long,cylindrical, smooth). Achene spinules moderatelylong, very robust, incurved. Rostrum length 10–11 mm.

Taraxacum nylandicum is an easily recognisedspecies, which was instantly defined as an un-known taxon in the type location. When studyingspecies in herbarium H for possible identificationof T. nylandicum only one species was found toresemble it in respect of leaf lobation, viz. T. cras-sipes Lindb. fil., another member of sect. Borei-gena. Taraxacum nylandicum is easily separatedfrom T. crassipes in having polliniferous anthers,discoloured stigmas, dark glabrescent leaves, andstrongly red leaf petioles.

Taraxacum porcellisinus Sonck & H. Øllg., sp. nov.(Fig. 5)

E sectione Ruderalia. Planta 20–45 cm alta, satgracilis. Folia lanceolata, obscure viridia, glabre-scentia, multilobata, petiolis angustis, lucide pur-pureis, nervo mediano saepe etiam ± rubescente,non striatulo. Lobi laterales deltoidei, inter se fereaequales, interdum alte incisi, tamen plerumqueintegri, margine dorsali et proximali fere recto,hoc saepe dente conspicuo peracuto instructo, api-ce loborum lateralium acuminato peracuto. Lo-bus terminalis sat parvus, triangulari-hastatus,dorsis ± concavis, plerumque incisis, ejus lobulisbasalibus rotundato-apicatis, apice acuminatoperacuto. Foliorum interiorum lobus terminalishaud maior. Interlobia partis superioris foliorumacuto-angulata, integra vel uno dente conspicuoperacuto instructa, vix plicata, viridia. Scapi quamfolia longiores, sub involucro araneosi, ceterumglabrescentes. Involucrum obscure viride (sed nonnigrescens), parum pruinosum. Squamae exte-riores anguste lanceolatae, ca. 12 mm longae, 2–2.5 mm latae, reflexae, marginibus recurvis nonhyalinis, apicibus saepe subcorniculatis. Squamaeinteriores latitudine inter se fere similes. Cala-thium 35–40 mm diametro, luteum, mediocriterdensum, convexum, ligulis marginalibus planis,subtus stria cano-violacea instructis, denticulisapicalibus luteis. Antherae polliniferae, granis

ANN. BOT. FENNICI 36 (1999) • New Taraxacum species from Finland 297

pollinis diametro variis. Stigmata obscure vire-scentia non nigrescentia. Achenium brunnei-stramineum, ca. 3.8 mm longum (pyramideinclusa), superne spinulis sat tenuibus mediocriterlongis, rectis, instructum, pyramide 0.7–0.8 mmlonga, cylindrica, laevi. Rostrum 9–10 mm lon-gum. Pappus albus.

Holotype: Finland. “Lapponia inarensis, par. Inari, Si-kovuono, cp. vilj. niityllä tien varr. (ent. saksalaisten leiri-paikka 1942–1943)”, 7.VII.1984 C. E. Sonck & H. Øllgaard(H 726206; isotypes in H 726205, H 726207 (HØ84-424))and in the private herbaria of C. E. Sonck, and H. Øllgaard(HØ84-423,-425). Note: The location Sikovuono (English:“pig’s bay”, Latin: porcellisinus) is a farm 7 km NNW ofInari church, at the road towards Utsjoki (68°57´38´´N;26°58´21´´E). It was a German military camp site 1942–1943. The species occurs in great numbers on grass fieldsbetween the road and the farm.

Taraxacum porcellisinus is a slender, moder-ately tall plant (20–45 cm) with lanceolate, gla-brescent, dark green, multilobate leaves and nar-row and unwinged, strongly purple-coloured peti-oles and sometimes also with the midribs coloureda long way up on the upper surface, without stri-atulate pattern. The lateral lobes are crowded andrather uniform, deltoid, sometimes deeply cleft(one incision), but usually undivided and with en-tire upper edges, almost straight proximal edgeswhich often have a conspicuous, very acute, down-wards-pointing tooth. The lobe apex is very acute,often acuminate. The terminal lobe is small, trian-gular-hastate, with ± incised lateral edges (inci-sions often causing lobules with rounded apices)and an acute, acuminate, somewhat elongate apex.The terminal lobes of the inner leaves is hardlylarger than those of the other leaves. The interlobesare acute-angled, mostly entire, but sometimeswith a single long tooth, not strongly plicate andwithout blotches. The scapes are longer than theleaves, glabrescent except under the involucres.The buds are dark but not blackish green, onlyfaintly pruinose. The outer bracts are narrowlylanceolate, ca. 12 mm long, 2–2.5 mm broad, ± re-flexed, margins somewhat recurved, without hya-line border, sometimes with a small corniculationnear the tip. The width of the inner bracts is uni-form. The flowering capitulum is small for thesection (diameter 35–40 mm), moderately denseto dense, with a convex profile. The flowers areyellow, outer ligules flat with yellow apical teethand striped dark greyish violet on underside. Het-

erogenous pollen is produced. Stigmas are verydark greenish, but hardly blackish. Achenes brown-ish straw-coloured, ca. 3.8 mm long (incl. the 0.7–0.8 mm long, cylindrical and smooth, cone). Theachene spinules are moderately long, rather thin,straight. Rostrum 9–10 mm long.

Taraxacum porcellisinus has been determinedas both T. angustisquameum H. Lindb. and T. me-lanostigma Dahlst. ex H. Lindb., the two specieswhich look most like T. porcellisinus. Taraxacumangustisquameum has longer (14–15 mm) outerbracts which are usually forming a patent ± regu-lar collar. The lateral lobes of T. angustisquameumare more irregular and usually more distant thanin the present species, and downwards pointingteeth on lower lobe edges are rarely seen. Taraxa-cum angustisquameum has larger flowerheads (ca.50 mm) and achenes with a shorter cone (0.4–0.5 mm), recurved spinules and a longer rostrum

Fig. 5. Taraxacum porcellisinus Sonck & H. Øllg. (holo-type).

298 Sonck & Øllgaard • ANN. BOT. FENNICI 36 (1999)

(ca. 12 mm). Taraxacum melanostigma usuallyhas very dark blackish green buds and blackishstigmas. The lateral lobes of outer leaves of T. me-lanostigma usually have a clearly convex upperedge and are more distant. The leaf lobes nowheretend to become acuminate. Besides, T. melano-stigma very often lacks pollen, which is not thecase in T. porcellisinus.

Taraxacum porcellisinus is best known fromthe type location, where it is abundant. It has beencollected there 1973–1997. It has only been foundelsewhere in S Finland, Nylandia, Lovisa 3.VI.1979.

Acknowledgements: The Latin and English texts have beenrevised by Prof. Rolf Westman, Åbo, and Dr. Richard Pank-hurst, Edinburgh, respectively.