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| Allium albanicum Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Giusso & Salmeri
in Brullo, Brullo, Cambria, et al., 2019.
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Abstract
A new species, Allium albanicum, is described and illustrated from Albania (Balkan Peninsula). It grows on serpentines or limestone in open rocky stands with a scattered distribution, mainly in mountain locations. Previously, the populations of this geophyte were attributed to A. meteoricum Heldr. & Hausskn. ex Halácsy, described from a few localities of North and Central Greece. These two species indeed show close relationships, chiefly regarding some features of the spathe valves, inflorescence and floral parts. They also share the same diploid chromosome number 2n =16 and similar karyotype, while seed testa micro-sculptures and leaf anatomy reveal remarkable differences. There are also several morphological features that allow them to be differentiated at specific level. The inclusion of both species into a newly described section Pseudoscorodon of the subgen. Allium is proposed. An analytic key to the species, included in the new section, is also provided.
Keywords: Allium, Amaryllidaceae, Albania, chromosome, new section, taxonomy
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| Figure 1. Allium albanicum Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Giusso & Salmeri sp. nov. A Habit B Flower C Perigon and stamens open D Anther E Ovaries F Capsule G Spathe valves. Drawing by S. Brullo based on living material coming from the type locality. |
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| Figure 7. Phenological features of Allium albanicum and A. meteoricum. A Growing habitat of A. albanicum in the locus classicus (Albania) B Individuals of A. albanicum from the locus classicus C A. albanicum cultivated material in Botanical Garden of Catania D Leaf of A. albanicum, cultivated material E, F Individual of A. meteoricum, from Meteora (Greece). Photos by S. Cambria. |
Allium albanicum Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Giusso & Salmeri, sp. nov.
Allium meteoricum auct. fl. Albania non Halacsy, Consp. Fl. Graec. 3(1): 250. 1904, Syn.
Type: ALBANIA. Devoli river, near Berat, serpentines, ca. 700 m elev., ...., 26 June 2017, S. Cambria s.n. (Holotype: CAT; Isotypes: CAT, FI, G).
Diagnosis: Allio meteoricum similis sed bulbis minoribus tunicis exterioribus brunneis, scapo ad 1/4 longitudinem vaginis foliorum tecto, spathae valvis in dimidio inferiore connatis, appendice usque ad 2,5 mm longa, majore 3–5 nervata, minore 3 nervata, tepalis albo-roseis, minoribus, apice erosis, filamentis staminorum minoribus, luteis superne, annulo breviore, antheris viridulis- pallide luteis, apice rotundatis, ovario luteo leviter apice rugoso, poris nectariferis majoris, capsula majore subgloboso-obovata, differt.
Etymology: The epithet refers to the Latin “Albanicum”, coming from Albania, the country where the species grows.
Salvatore Brullo, Cristian Brullo, Salvatore Cambria, Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo and Cristina Salmeri. 2019. Allium albanicum (Amaryllidaceae), A New Species from Balkans and its relationships with A. meteoricum Heldr. & Hausskn. ex Halácsy. PhytoKeys. 119: 117-136. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.119.30790
