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| Silene isabellae Selvi & Bianchi, in Selvi, Gonnelli et Bianchi, 2023. |
Abstract
The new species Silene isabellae is described and illustrated from the Skënderbëut mountain range of central Albania. It grows on the ultramafic mountain slopes around Qafë Shtamë, in the understorey of open Pinus nigra forests and in the rocky grasslands above the forest belt, at 1000–1600 m a.s.l. Silene isabellae is a serpentine endemic likely belonging to section Elisanthe (Fenzl ex Endl.) Ledeb. and shows affinities with the widespread European species S. noctiflora L. It is sharply distinct from the latter species in habit, stem and leaf pubescence, morphology, and biology of the flowers and length of the carpophore. Moreover, the ecology of the two taxa is also contrasting, being S. noctiflora a synanthropic-ruderal, mostly in lowlands. Weaker similarities were also observed with the south European subalpine taxa of the group of S. vallesia L. of section Auriculatae (Boiss.) Schischk., though these are not likely to reflect a real systematic affinity.
Key words: Albanian flora, morphology, new species, serpentine endemism, Silene, taxonomy
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| Silene isabellae A whole plant B flower with calyx and corolla C fruiting calyx D capsule and carpophore E seed. Original drawing by Laura Vivona. |
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| Field photos of Silene isabellae A habitat B, C whole plants in natural habitat D inflorescence with flowers and fruiting calyces E flower F basal leaves G flowers at late stage H seed. |
Silene isabellae Selvi & Bianchi, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Silene isabellae differs from S. noctiflora by the perennial habit with stoloniferous stems forming thick mats (instead of annual), the sparsely and shortly glandular-pubescent stem (vs. densely hairy), the basal leaves of the sterile stems present and widely obovate-spathulate (vs. absent), the cauline leaves linear-lanceolate (3–5 mm vs. ovate-lanceolate 25–35 mm wide), with shortly ciliate margins (vs. densely pubescent on both surfaces), the longer calyx teeth (ca. 8.5 vs. 7.0 mm), the corolla unscented and open during daytime (instead of scented and opening at evening), the petal lobes dentate (vs. entire), the fruiting calyx with prominent longitudinal ribs and the longer carpophore (6–7 vs. 2–3 mm).
Etymology: This species is dedicated to the first author’s wife, for her continuous support and advice during many botanical trips across the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Federico Selvi, Cristina Gonnelli and Elisabetta Bianchi. 2023. Silene isabellae (Caryophyllaceae), A New Campion Species from Serpentine Soils of Albania. PhytoKeys. 227: 123-134. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.227.100850
