An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia

2025  47  18 adansonia Adansonia est une revue en flux continu publiée par les Publications scientifiques du Muséum, Paris Adansonia is a fast track journal published by the Museum Science Press, Paris Les Publications scientifiques du Muséum publient aussi / The Museum Science Press also publish: Geodiversitas, Zoosystema, Anthropozoologica, European Journal of Taxonomy, Naturae, Cryptogamie sous-sections Algologie, Bryologie, Mycologie, Comptes Rendus Palevol Diffusion – Publications scientifiques Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle CP 41 – 57 rue Cuvier F-75231 Paris cedex 05 (France) Tél. : 33 (0)1 40 79 48 05 / Fax : 33 (0)1 40 79 38 40 [email protected] / http://sciencepress.mnhn.fr © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, 2025 ISSN (imprimé / print) : 1280-8571/ ISSN (électronique / electronic) : 1639-4798 Directeur De la publication / Publication director: Gilles Bloch Président du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle réDacteur en chef / editor-in-chief : Thierry Deroin réDacteurs / editors : Porter P. 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Tohmé (Conseil national de la Recherche scientifique Liban, Beyrouth) J. G. West (Australian National Herbarium, Canberra) J. R. Wood (Oxford) couverture / cover : Réalisée à partir des Figures de l’article/Made from the Figures of the article. Adansonia est indexé dans / Adansonia is indexed in: – Science Citation Index Expanded (SciSearch®) – ISI Alerting Services® – Current Contents® / Agriculture, Biology, and Environmental Sciences® – Scopus® Adansonia est distribué en version électronique par / Adansonia is distributed electronically by: – BioOne® (http://www.bioone.org) 319 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) © Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. www.adansonia.com Kaya Ö. F. & Ertekin A. S. 2025. — An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia. Adansonia, sér. 3, 47 (18): 319-326. https://doi.org/10.5252/adansonia2025v47a18. http://adansonia.com/47/18 ABSTRACT Rosularia haussknechtii s.str. is an enigmatic endemic taxon only spread in Southeastern Anatolia. Since the description of this species has been made only on herbarium specimens and from herbarium and live samples of R.pseudohaussknechtii Niederle incorrectly, unfortunately, it contains many deficiencies and mistakes. With this study, the only known type locality of R.haussknechtii s.str. was collected for the first time since 1865, and a new different locality was also found. Based on the live specimens from these different populations, the description of the species was emended. Considering these new data., habitat and ecological characteristics of R.haussknechtii s.str. were determined and distribution map in Türkiye was given. RÉSUMÉ Une description amendée pour Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss.& Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) du sud-est de l’Anatolie. Rosularia haussknechtii s.str. est un taxon énigmatique endémique du sud-est de l’Anatolie. La description de cette espèce n’ayant été établie que sur des spécimens d’herbiers et à partir d’échantillons secs et vivants de R.pseudohaussknechtii Niederle de manière incorrecte, elle comporte malheureusement de nombreuses lacunes et erreurs. Avec cette étude, la seule localité type connue de R.haussknechtii s.str. a été recollectée pour la première fois depuis 1865, et une nouvelle localité distincte a également été reconnue. Sur la base des spécimens vivants de ces différentes populations, la description de l’espèce a été amendée. Compte tenu de ces nouvelles informations, l’habitat et les caractéristiques écologiques de R.haussknechtii s.str. ont été précisés et une carte de répartition en Turquie a été établie. MOTS CLÉS Crassulaceae, Turquie, Anatolie, écologie, espèces endémiques. KEY WORDS Crassulaceae, Turkey, Anatolia, ecology, endemic species. Ömer Faruk KAYA Harran University, Faculty of Art & Science, Department of Biology, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye [email protected] (corresponding author) Alaattin Selçuk ERTEKIN Dicle University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Diyarbakır, Türkiye Submitted on 22 December 2024 | accepted on 22 March 2025 | published on 3 November 2025 An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia 320 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) Kaya Ö. F.& Ertekin A. S. INTRODUCTION Crassulaceae members are perennial, succulent herbaceous, small shrubs, or rarely trees and contain about 34 genera and 1400 species. Generally, they grow in arid habitats, and also in mesic or moist habitats outside of Australia and the Pacific islands (Cronquist 1981; Takhtajan 2009; Simpson 2019). Rosularia (DC.) Stapf is a small genus usually grown as chasmophytes and distributed in arid and semi-arid regions from the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia and Himalaya (Kelaidis 2006). Especially the region from Southern and Eastern Anatolia to Iran is an important diversification center where high endemism is seen in Rosularia and its related genera. The taxonomy of the Rosularia is problematic due to differences between classifications and disputes over the boundaries of generic groups (Sarwar& Qaiser 2012). In taxonomic arrangements done in recent years by some researchers, Prometheum (A. Berger) H. Ohba and Chaloupkaea Niederle, are suggested as different genera from Rosularia. (Ohba 1978; Niederle 2016). The genus Rosularia has 33 taxa (11 endemic taxa) in the world and is represented by 16 taxa (seven endemic taxa) in Türkiye. (Karaer 2012; Yıldırımlı 2014; Niederle 2015; Kılıç& Yıldırımlı 2019; POWO 2024). Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss.& Reut.) A.Berger is endemic to the Southeastern Anatolia Region and was collected for the first time and only once in 1865 by Haussknecht from Urfa (now Şanlıurfa) and it was published as a new species by Boissier (1872). However, in the following years, Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) erroneously considered different Rosularia specimens collected from the Munzur Mountains in Tunceli province as the same species and the characteristics of these specimens were added to the description of the species. Again, the same mistake was made by Eggli (1988) in his monography of the genus Rosularia. He made the description of the species by taking into account of the different Rosularia samples, collected from Tunceli, in the same way. Unfortunately, unfinished and deficient evaluations were made in both studies mentioned above. This situation was clearly determined when the R.haussknechtii specimens, collected from Diyarbakır and Şanlıurfa provinces during the floristic trips in the Southeastern Anatolia Region between 2018-2020, could not be evaluated with the help of the literature (Chamberlain& Muirhead 1972; Eggli 1988, 2003). As a result of this study, specimens were collected from the type locality of R.haussknechtii for the first time in 150 years, and a new locality other than the only known locality was identified. In addition, its description was reorganized in detail on live and herbarium specimens, its habitat and ecological characteristics and distribution were clearly determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS The samples collected from the ruins of the Mar Jacob monastery in Şanlıurfa and its surroundings are the first to be collected since Haussknecht’s collection in 1865. The samples collected from Eğil district of Diyarbakır, belong to a population, determined for the first time with this study. The specimens are deposited in Dicle University Herbarium (DUF). Diagnosis and evaluations were made according to relevant literatures (Boissier 1872; Chamberlain& Muirhead 1972; Niederle 2015; Eggli 1988). In addition, the examined virtual herbarium samples of R.haussknechtii s.str. and R.pseudohaussknechtii are shown in Table 1. AbbreviAtions B ZE Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin; BM Natural History Museum, London; E Royal Botanic Garden, Living Plant Collections, Edinburgh; CJBG (G) Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève; JE Friedrich Schiller University Jena; K Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; MW Moscow State University, Moscow; P Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris; W Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien. RESULTS Family CrAssulACeAe J.St.-Hil. Genus Rosularia (DC.) Stapf Rosularia haussknechtii s.str. (Figs 1, 2, 3; Tables 1, 2, 3) Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss.& Reut.) A.Berger, sensu stricto Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (ed. 2) 18a: 466 (Berger 1930).— Basionym: Umbilicus haussknechtii Boiss.& Reut. in Boiss., Flora Orientalis 2: 774 (Boissier 1872). type mAteriAl. — Türkiye • [C7 Urfa] in fissuris rupium calcareaum regionis calidae ad Mar Jacob supra Orfa (Urfa) Mesopotamiae; 15.V.1865; Haussknecht s.n.; lectotype: JE[JE00003786] image!; isolectotypes: B[B100241949] image!, BM[BM000632423] image!, G-BOIS[G00330685] image, G[G00418089] image!, JE[JE00003785] image!, K[K000838527] image!, LE[LE00013283] image!, MW[MW0592720] image!), P[P04022552, P04022553] images!, W[W0005250, W1889-0223437] images! o ther mAteriAl exAmined . — Türkiye• B8 Diyarbakır, Eğil to Dicle 4km, oak openings, rock crevices; 1042m alt.; 23.V.2018; Ertekin 2018-085; DUF• C7 Şanlıurfa, North of Kızılkuyu Wildlife Development Area, near beltway, rock crevices; 729m alt.; 27.V.2020; Ö.F.Kaya 6471• Nemrut mountain, surroundings of Mar Jacob monastery ruins, rock crevices; 712m alt.; 27.V.2020; Ö.F.Kaya 6479. distribution And eCology. — R.haussknechtii s.str. is an endemic species native to the Southeastern Anatolia Region and an IranoTuranian element. Bare crevices or rockies on open areas of oak forest form the plant habitat. R.haussknechtii s.str. grows in rockies or in rock areas at oak glades at 700-1050meters altitudes in the Mesopotamian steppes and, three populations of R.haussknechtii s.str. were identified in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır provinces. The distribution area of the species for Şanlıurfa is approximately 4km2 with an average of 350-400 individuals, while it is approximately 2km 2 for Diyarbakır with an average of 150-200 individuals. The main factors such as road construction, land use change, grazing and urbanization threaten the plant environment/habitat. Therefore, it has been suggested that the plant should be evaluated in Vulnerable-VU B1b (iii) category according to IUCN Standards& Petitions Committee (2024) Red List categories. 321 An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) remArks The holotype was not specified, in the protologue of Rosularia haussknechtii by Boissier (1872). This was ignored by Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) when a lectotype should have been determined. On the other hand, according to ICN (Turland etal. 2018), Eggli (1988) used the term holotype instead of lectotype in his original choice of lectotype for Rosularia haussknechtii. This is an error (see point 9.10). F A E B C D GH I fig. 1. — Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger in Şanlıurfa: A, habitat; B, habit; C, inflorescence; D, stem; E, basal leaves; F, flowering twig; G, corolla; H, median cauline leaf; I, rosette leaf. Scale bars: F, 11 cm; G, 12 mm; H, 2 cm, I, 2 cm. Photographs by Ö. F. Kaya. 322 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) Kaya Ö. F.& Ertekin A. S. However, since this erroneous typing was before January 1, 2001 (see Article 9.23), the original selection by Eggli (1988) is valid. Unnumbered samples first collected by Haussknecht in 1865 from a single locality in Urfa (now Şanlıurfa) were named as Umbilicus haussknechtii by Boissier and Reuter (Boissier 1872). There are 13 sheets collected by Haussknecht only from this type locality and only found in B, BM, G, JE, K, LE, MW, P, W herbaria. Although “typus” was written on the sheets found in B, G, P and W herbaria, taxonomists, who examined these samples, stated them as “isotypus”. The sheet (MW0592720) only found in MW was labelled as “isolectotypus”. desCription Caudex well developed, 4-8mm diam. Rosettes persistent after flowering, semiglobular, 2-5cm diam.; offsets many; scapes lateral, 5-10cm long, green or pink. Rosette leaves obovate-spathulate to narrowly spathulate, 18-30× 3-6mm, uninerved, attenuate at base, densely pectinate-ciliate with scattered glandular hairs on both surfaces, apex subacute. Lower cauline leaves linear, oblong-linear, 8-12× 1.5-2mm; median leaves linear or oblong-linear, 16-24× 2-3mm, dull green or deep pink, hirsute, densely ciliate, apex obtuse; floral leaves smaller and densely glandular pilose 7-12× 2mm. Inflorescence a lax thyrse, densely hairy, 8-17 flowered, alA BC fig. 2. — Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger in Diyarbakır: A, B, habitat; C, habit. Photographs by A.S.Ertekin. 323 An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) ways lateral, 1-3 per rosette, axis glandular-hairy in upper 2/3 imbricate leafy. Flowers 5-merous, narrowly campanulate. Pedicel 1-4mm. Bracts 2-4mm, bracteoles lanceolate, hairy. Calyx 4-5mm, densely hairy, tube 1-1.5mm, teeth lanceolate, 3-4mm. Corolla 10-12mm, pale yellow, back of petals densely pilose, petals connate 2/3 to 3/4, corolla lobes spreading, 3-4mm, ovate, yellow, with purple or pinkish veined, margins denticulate, mucronate, c.0.5mm, corolla tubes greenish, 7-8mm, densely pilose, longer than the calyx. Stamens 10, biseriate, longer stamen 7-8mm, shorter stamens 5-6mm long. Follicles 5-6mm, finely hairy, styles 1mm, stigmas capitate. Flowering in May. Rocky places, open areas of oak forest. Rosularia pseudohaussknechtii Niederle (Fig. 3) Skalničkářův rok 72: 38 (Niederle 2015). type mAteriAl. — Türkiye• Tunceli, Munzur dağı, above Ovacık, limestone rocks; 2800m alt.; 17.VII.1957; P.H. Davis& I.C.Hedge (D. 31242); E! other mAteriAl exAmined.— Türkiye• East Anatolia, in Armeniae petrosis; s.d.; Aucher-Éloy 2652; G!• Same data; Aucher-Éloy 2653; G!• Erzincan, N.W. side of Tayran dağı; 1500-1800m alt.; Watson etal. 32981. distribution And eCology. — R.pseudohaussknechtii is an endemic species native to Eastern Anatolia, identified from the Munzur Mountains and the nearby Tayran Mountains. The distribution area of the species is limited and it grows on calcareous rocks at elevations between 1500 and 2800meters. The distribution area and population status of R.pseudohaussknechtii could not be evaluated due to insufficient data. While R.haussknechtii s.str. is distributed in Southeastern Anatolia, R.pseudohaussknechtii is distributed in Eastern Anatolia. Some morphological characteristics of both species are shown in detail in Table 2. desCription Caudex slender, 2-3mm diam. Rosettes depressed 1-1.5cm diam; scapes lateral, 6-12cm, densely hairy. Rosette leaves oblong to oblong-spathulate, 8-12× 2-3mm, ciliate. Cauline leaves sparsely; lower narrowly obovate-spathulate, 7-12× 2-3mm, obtuse; median and upper leaves shorter and narrower, oblong to linear-spathulate, 6-9× 1-1.5mm, densely hairy. Inflorescence a lax thyrse, densely hairy, 7-13 flowered, lateral, 1-3 per rosette. Flowers 5-merous, narrowly campanulate. Pedicel 3-6mm. Bracts minute, c.2mm, hairy. Calyx 4-5mm, densely hairy, teeth lanceolate, connate at base. Corolla 9-11mm, pale pink, back of petals pilose; petals connate 2/5 to 1/2, corolla lobes 5-6mm, ovate, apiculate, as long as or slightly longer than corolla tube. Flowering in July. Limestone rocks 1700-2800m. DISCUSSION Due to evaluation of R.haussknechtii s.str. together with different Rosularia samples collected from Eastern Anatolia, the information given in the literature (Chamberlain& Muirhead 1972; Eggli 1988) about the species is incomplete and erroneous, therefore the description, distribution and ecology of the species were actually identified very differently. For this reason, the description of R.haussknechtii s.str. has been reorganized according to the samples collected from the type locality, its surroundings and the newly determined location. Although the flower color of the species was clearly stated as “ochroleucous” in the first description by Boissier (1872); Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) and Eggli table 1. — Examined specimens of R. haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger and R. pseudohaussknechtii Niederle. Herbarium Code Barcode / Catalog number Text on label Collector Number Date Locality R. haussknechtii s.str. BB100241949 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In fissur. rup. calc. m. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 4000 ped. BM BM000632423 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In rup. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 3000 ped. G-BOIS G00330685 Haussknecht s.n. – – GG00418089 Haussknecht s.n. 1865 Monte Orfa JE JE00003785 Haussknecht 893 15.05.1865 In fissur. rup. calc. montis Mar Jacob pr. Orfa JE JE00003786 Haussknecht s.n. 1865 Monte Orfa KK000838527 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In rup. supra Orfa, 3000 ped. LE LE 00013283 Haussknecht s.n. 1865 Monte Orfa PP04022552 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In rup. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 3000 ped. PP04022553 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In rup. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 3000 ped. WW0005250 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In fissur. rup. calc. m. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 3000 ped. WW1889-0295631 Haussknecht s.n. 15.05.1865 In fissur. rup. calc. m. Mar Jacob supra Orfa, 4000 ped. MW MW0592720 Haussknecht s.n. 1865 In fissur.rup. s. Orfa Mesopot., 3000 ped. R. pseudohaussknechtii Niederle EE00361529 Davis & Hedge D.31242 17.7.1957 Turkey Prov. Tunceli: Munzur Dağ above Ovacik, 2800 m, limestone rocks RSA RSA0267476 Davis & Hedge D.31242 17.7.1957 Tunceli: Munzur Dağ above Ovacik, 2800 m, limestone rocks GG00446746 Aucher-Eloy 2652 s.d. Armenia GG00446744 Aucher-Eloy 2653 s.d. Armenia 324 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) Kaya Ö. F.& Ertekin A. S. (1988) erroneously stated it as pink, based on only the live and herbarium samples collected from Tunceli and also belonging to a different taxon. It seems that this is due to the fact that no live samples from R.haussknechtii s.str. were collected and examined in both literatures caused this situation. Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) made a note stating that the flower color as “ochroleucous” in the description of the sample was a mistake of Boissier (1872) because the flowers were dried. However, this is not correct. It can be said that Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) misled at this point by the sheet in the E herbarium (E00361529). Because it can be seen the flower color of this sample collected from Tunceli by P.H. Davis (D. 31242) is pink. This is also clearly stated by the collector on the herbarium label. Similarly, Eggli (1988) reported (stated) that he could not collect samples from the type locality of the species in 1985. He made the same mistake because he only used the samples of a different taxon with pink flowers collected from Tunceli. The location of the type locality was another mistake of Eggli (1988) and he stated this as a footnote. He stated that he could not collect samples during his trip to Şanlıurfa in 1985, where the type locality of the species is located. Considering the population status of the species in the type locality today, it is understood that the location of the type locality has never been able to be determined. As a result of this, he questioned the location of “Mar Jacob” in Urfa, which was stated as the type locality by Haussknecht, and stated that the type locality could be “Mar Jakub”, which Nábělek (1923) stated in his itinerary. He also stated that this place should be located outside of Türkiye, between Mosul and Zaho (Iraq). He made a completely erroneous interpretation. Interestingly, despite this erroneous interpretation, Eggli (1988) still stated the type locality of the species same as given by Haussknecht. However, on the other hand, he continued this misconception by making information about the distribution area, habitat and ecology of the species without taking into account the characteristics of the type locality. This has led to misinformation about the species. Eggli (1988) stated that he examined 12 collections (B7, C7, B9) containing live material from three populations of R.haussknechtii from Türkiye. He did not provide any clear locality information for the live materials he claimed that he collected. He stated that he only collected samples from Munzur Mountain (Tunceli) at the lower elevation limit of 1700-1800m, which already corresponds the B7. It was stated in the previous paragraph that he could not collect samples from C7, where the type of the species was located. He did not provide any clear locality information on the live materials, that he said he examined from the B9. In this case, it seems that the author did not collect any live samples except from B7. There is no information on the herbarium labels indicating that Rosularia samples were collected from B9 square where the author stated. Presumably, the author may have referred to Aucher-Éloy 2617, registered in the W (W 1889-0223437) herbarium. Because, there is Eggli’s determinavit on this sample’s herbarium label. Niederle (2015) used the expression for Aucher-Éloy 2617 “Neither haussknechtii nor pseudohausskne - chtii, but perhaps a small form of Rosularia blepharophylla”. The sheets Aucher-Éloy 2652 and 2653 registered in the G herbarium (G00446746 / G00446744) examined by Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) must also be from the Black Sea TURKEY 25°E 30° 35° 40° 45° 50° 35° SYRIA JORDAN SAUDI ARABIA IRAN ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN RUSSIA GEORGIA IRAQI KURDISTAN EGYPT LIBYA Mediterranean Sea 30° 40°N 200 km fig. 3. — Distribution map of Rosularia haussknechtii s.str. (●) and R. pseudohaussknechti (▼) in Türkiye. 325 An emended description for Rosularia haussknechtii (Boiss. & Reuter) A.Berger (Crassulaceae) from Southeastern Anatolia ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2025 • 47 (18) same locality. Because, only “Armenia” is written on all three samples as the locality. There is no label on AucherÉloy 2652, but Eggli (1988) quotes that he examined it. Aucher-Éloy 2617 is dated 1834, while Aucher-Éloy 2652 and 2653 does not bear a date. Aucher-Éloy made six trips to Türkiye between 1832 and 1837. It is known that he visited Munzur (Tunceli) and Keşiş (Erzincan) Mountains in the region called Upper Euphrates during his trip with Gustave Coquebert de Montbret in 1834 (Jaubert 1843; Baytop 2005). Aucher-Éloy’s itinerary in 1834 does not pass through square B9 in any way. In this case, it seems that Aucher-Éloy’s samples 2617 and 2652 and the plant samples collected by Davis (D. 31242 from Tunceli) and Watson and his colleagues (Watson etal. 3298 from Erzincan) have been collected from the same region. Aucher-Éloy’s itinerary confirms this situation. Accordingly, the plant samples mentioned above, collected and examined as R.haussknechtii, are not actually samples of this species. The above-mentioned species was distinguished from R.haussknechtii samples by Niederle (2015) and described as a new species with the name R.pseudohaussknechtii. This is another proof that the information about the description, distribution, habitat and ecology of R.haussknechtii s.str. is inaccurate and incomplete. In this study, living samples collected from three different populations of R.haussknechtii s.str., including the type locality, were examined and some morphological characteristics of the species were compared with those reported by Chamberlain& Muirhead (1972) and Eggli (1988) (Table 3). Also, the distribution map of the species is given (Fig. 3). The natural range of R.haussknechtii is limited to the Mesopotamian steppes including Southeastern Anatolia, not the Munzur Mountains and neighboring mountains as Eggli (1988) erroneously stated. In addition, R.haussknechtii grows in the same geographical region as the morphologically well-defined R.blepharophylla Eggli, which has a limited distribution in the northwestern part of Diyarbakır, but has a distinct isolation due to its more southerly distribution. In terms of morphological (habit and floral) characteristics, R.pseudohaussknechtii (Niederle 2015) and R.paluensis (Kılıç& Yıldırımlı 2019) are closely related to R.sempervivum A.Berger. It is also possible that they are the same taxa. Both species were described only in comparison with R.haussknechtii. R.sempervivum was therefore overlooked and consequently under-evaluated. R.sempervivum is a rather complex taxon represented by seven subspecies with different views on their boundaries (Eggli 1988). The infraspecific classification of this taxon by Eggli (1988) emphasized the importance of geographical delimitation as well as morphological features. In addition, considering the studies of Eggli (1988) and Kılıç& Yıldırımlı (2019), it is seen that R.paluensis and R.sempervivum subsp. libanotica (Labill.) Eggli are taxa that grow in the same geographical area and have very similar morphological characteristics (leaf, calyx, corolla and hairiness). Due to these characteristics, R.paluensis is considered to be a synonym of R.sempervivum subsp. libanotica. As a result, R.haussknechtii s.str., is not morphologically, geographically and ecologically related to other Rosularia taxa and is an endemic species that grows in rocky areas of 7001050meters altitude in Southeastern Anatolia Region and has three populations in Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır provinces. It has distinct characteristics different from those reported by other authors. It is distinctly different from other taxa, especially with its long, linear-striped, prominent, whiteciliate and closely arranged stem leaves, and light yellow petals 10-12mm long. Acknowledgements Thierry Deroin (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris) and an anonymous referee are thanked for their remarks on a previous version of the manuscript. table 2. — Comparison of morphological features of R. haussknechtii s.str. and R. pseudohaussknechtii Niederle. Characters R. haussknechtii s.str. R. pseudohaussknechtii Niederle Caudex Robust, 4-8 mm diam. Slender, 2-3 mm diam. Rosette leaves Obovate-spathulate to narrowly spathulate, ciliate, 18-30 × 3-6 mm Oblong to spathulate, ciliate, 8-12 × 2-3 mm Median cauline leaves 16-24 mm long, densely, imbricate 6-8 mm long, sparsely, not imbricate Calyx Shorter than corolla tube Longer than corolla tube Corolla Pale yellow Pale pink Petals Connate 2/3 to 3/4 Connate 2/5 to 1/2 table 3. — Comparison of the morphological features of R. haussknechtii s.str. Characters Chamberlain & Muirhead (1972) Eggli (1988) This study Caudex Present Absent or well developed Well developed Rosette (diam) 1-2 cm (0.5-)1.5-2.0(-3.0) cm 2-5 cm Rosette leaves Unknown Unknown 18-30 × 3-6 mm Stem leaves Linear-spathulate, 8-18 mm Oblong-spathulate to linear spathulate, 8-18 × 1.5-2.5 mm Linear or oblong-linear, 7-24 × 1.5-3 mm Calyx length 4 mm 2.5-4 mm 4-5 mm Corolla Pink, 6-12 mm Pale pink, 7-8.3 mm Pale yellow, 10-12 mm, Petals Connate 2/5 to 1/2 Connate 2/5 to 3/4 Connate 2/3 to 3/4