[Entomology • 2023] Roeseliana epirotica • Data on the Distribution of the Genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae) in the southwestern Balkans, with Description of A New Species

 

Roeseliana epirotica 

 Lemonnier-Darcemont & Darcemont, 2023

 

sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/45/14

  x.com/Publi_MNHN

 

This article provides new biogeographical data on the genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 in the southwestern Balkans, with the description of a new species, Roeseliana epirotica n. sp., discovered in four localities of the meso-Mediterranean zone of the Epirus region in Greece and Albania. From the supra-Mediterranean zone and upper, in Albania, Greece and also in the Republic of North Macedonia, we have only observed Roeseliana ambitiosa (Uvarov, 1924), with which R. epirotica n. sp. was probably confused in its most Mediterranean localities. These two taxa are nevertheless well differentiated, especially by the shape of the subgenital plate in the female and the shape in the titillators of the male.

KEYWORDS: Epirus, Greece, Albania, description, new species

Michèle Lemonnier-Darcemont & Christian Darcemont. 2023. Data on the Distribution of the Genus Roeseliana Zeuner, 1941 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Tettigoniinae) in the southwestern Balkans, with Description of R. epirotica n. sp. ZOOSYSTEMA. 45(14); 445-450. 

 sciencepress.MNHN.fr/en/periodiques/zoosystema/45/14

  x.com/Publi_MNHN/status/1696496030789894566 

[Botany • 2023] Silene isabellae (Caryophyllaceae) • A New Campion Species from Serpentine Soils of Albania

Silene isabellae Selvi & Bianchi, 

in Selvi, Gonnelli et Bianchi, 2023.

 DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.227.100850

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

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. 

  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

 

[Botany • 2019] Allium albanicum (Amaryllidaceae) • A New Species from Balkans

  Allium albanicum Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Giusso & Salmeri  

in Brullo, Brullo, Cambria, et al., 2019. 

DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.119.30790

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

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.

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