Rubiaceae

G. nabelekii Ehrend. & Schönb.-Tem. in Plant Syst. Evol. 127:302(1977). Syn: G. subvelutinum auct. p.p. non (DC.) C. Koch (1851); G. subvelutinum (DC.) C. Koch var. obtusifolium sensu Hand.-Mazz.in Ann. Nat. Hofmus. Wien 27:427 (1913) non Bornm. (1906); G. handelii Nâb. in Publ. Fac. Sci. Univ. Masaryk Brno 35:134, t. 7 f. 3 (1923) nom. superfl. p.p.; G. subvelutinum (DC.) C. Koch subsp. megalanthum (Boiss.) Ehrend. in Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 22:367 (1958) p.p. Map 111.
Low caespitose perennial, with woody rootstock or rhizome, nigrescent on drying. Stems slightly woody at base, (10-)12-16(-25) cm, numerous, ascending to suberect, often reddish at base, ± branched, glabrous except for sparingly puberulent nodes; lower internodes 1-2 x as long as leaves, upper elongate to 5 cm. Leaves in whorls of (4-)6,±strongly spreading, 8-15(-35) x (1.5)2-4 mm, oblanceolate, oblanceolate-oblong to broadly elliptic, shortly acuminate to cuspidate, glabrous except for some hairs on leaf-margins of basal axillary buds or sometimes on base and vein of upper leaves, with flat margins often minutely papillose-serrulate mainly towards apex. Inflorescence few-flowered, ± broadly obovoid, glabrous, with corymbiform partial inflorescences; lower bracts leaf-like, upper much reduced. Pedicels 1.5-4(-5.5) mm. Corolla white or tinged pink, 2.5-3.5(-4.5) mm diam.; tube c. 0.4 mm, lobes ovate, mucro-nulate, 1.2-1.5 mm. Anthers broadly ellipsoid, 0.3-0.4 mm, pale to nigrescent. Mericarps broadly ovoid, c. 1.5 mm, subgranulate, glabrous. Fl. 7-8. Often moist rocky ledges, crevices and scree, (950-J1500-3100 m.
Type: Turkey [B9] Bitlis: N. cliffs above crater of Nemrut Dağ, 2700 m, 12 viii 1956, McNeill 579 (holo. K! iso. E! W!).
S.E.Anatolia. B8 Muş: E. slopes of Teng valley, 1500 m, Kotschy 1859:507! Siirt: Meleto (Meretuğ) Da., 2200-3100 m, Hand.-Mazz. 2792 (some plants approach G. mite)! B9 Bitlis: Bitlis to Tatvan, 1600 m, D. 43376!* Bitlis/Van: mt 10 km S.E. of Pelli, 2600 m, D. 22515!* Van: Artos Da., N. slopes above Gevaş, 2750 m, McNeill 738!* c. 5 km W. of Gevaş, 1700 m, Ehrend. et al. 787-91-2! B10 Agri: d. Aralik, Büyük Ağri Da. above Serdar Bulak, 2900 m, D. 46964! C9 Hakkari: Kara Da., 2900 m, D. 24396!* C10 Hakkari: Cilo Tepe, 3000 m, D. 24029!* Sat Da., N.W. of Sat G., 2900-3000 m, D. 45695!
N. Iraq. Ir.-Tur. element. Related to G. subvelutinum. Specimens marked by an asterisk approach G. psilophyllum in having ± ciliolate leaves to 2.5(-3.5) cm, and flowers to 4.5 mm diam. with obtusish corolla lobes. A specimen from C10 Hakkari (Sat Da., Duncan & Tait 23a!) consists of 2 plants, one glabrous, the other densely pubescent; the latter appears to be transitional to G. subvelutinum. Specimens from B10 Ağri (Büyük Ağri Da., B. Post 2146! ibid., D. 46964!) are remarkable. The Post specimen has narrow leaves, many-flowered inflorescences and slightly infundibular corollas, while the Davis gathering has broader leaves, stems puberulent below, and larger corollas with obtusish lobes. Their taxonomic position is unclear and requires further study.