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In this paper, Allium sphaeronixum, a new species of the sect. Codonoprasum from Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new species is endemic to Central Anatolia, limited to the area of Nevşehir, where it grows on sandy or rocky soil at an elevation of 1000–1300 m a.s.l. Its morphology, phenology, karyology, leaf anatomy, seed testa micromorphology, chorology, and conservation status are examined in detail. The taxonomic relationships with the closest allied species, A. staticiforme and A. myrianthum, are also highlighted and discussed.

Limonium ksamilum, a new species is described and illustrated from southern Albania, where it grows along the calcareous rocky coast near Ksamil. It shows close taxonomical relationships with L. dictyophorum, as well as with L. himariense and L. arcuatum, with which it shares similar ecological requirements. Remarks on its morphological features, distribution, ecology, conservation status and an analytical key for the species of Limonium occurring in Albania are provided.

Solenopsis laurentia (Linnaeus 1753: 931) C. Presl (1836: 32) Lobelia laurentia Linnaeus (1753: 1931); Type:—Icon. Tab. 14, Micheli (1729) as “ Laurentia annua, minima, flore caeruleo ” pg.18, (lectotype designated by Crespo et al., 1996) (Fig. 1). Epitype:— ITALY. Tuscany: Insula Elba (olim Ilva vel Aetalia), fra il golfo Stella e il golfo dell’Acoreo (andando dal Margidore alla spiaggia grande) pareti delle fosse, ivi abbondante, 28 June 1900, S . Sommier s.n. (FI! Specimen bottom right, sub Laurentia michelii, here designated). Lobelia gracilis Salisbury (1796: 129), nom. Illeg. Laurentia michelii A. Candolle de (1839: 409). Lobelia michelii (A. Candolle de) Colmeiro (1887: 493), nom illeg. Laurentia commutata Todaro (1873: 160), nom illeg. Description: —Annual herb, 8–13 cm tall, scapose, elongate, glabrous, green. Stems solitary, erect, laxly leafy and unbranched below, more densely leafy and branched at the top. Leaves usually cauline, 10–20 × 3–6 mm, oblanceolate to spathulate, entire to weakly crenate, petiolate, penninerved. Petiole 3–5 mm long. Flowers solitary on axillary pedicel, 2–6 cm long, with 1–2 bracteole 2.5–3.5 × 0.4–0.9 mm, with 1–3 small teeth per side ending with a gland and apex without gland. Calyx 3–4 mm long, with lobes linear-lanceolate, acute, 1.5–2.2 mm long, uninerved, smoot at margin. Corolla tubular, 5–6 mm long, bilabiate, with lobes slightly divaricate, oblong, acute to sub-obtuse, upper lip with 2 lobes 2.5–2.7 × 1.1–1.3 mm, bluish-lilac and whitish in the lower part of the tube, lower lip with 3 lobes 1–1.2 × 0.7–0.8 mm, bluish-lilac, whitish in the tube and slightly tinged with green in the central part of the nervation. The lower lobes inside are provided with papillae clavate, 0.12–0.3 mm long, 25–50 per each lobe. Staminal filament whitish, 2.5–3.1 mm long, below fused with the corolla. Anthers violet, upper bearded, connate into a tube 0.7–0.8 mm long, wholly encapsulating the stigma; the two lower anthers are smaller, each at the top with a tuft of hairs closing a narrow fissure; the three upper anthers in the young flower are curved and at the end erect, with hairs near the top of the back. Ovary below fused with the calyx tube; style whitish, slightly curved upward 3 mm long; stigma white, papillate, with a ring of hairs just under the base. Capsule 3 mm long. Seeds flat, ellipsoid, brownish-yellow, shining, 0.4 × 0.2 mm. Seed micromorphology: —According to literature (Murata 1992, 1995, Haridasan & Mukherejee 1993, Serra & Crespo 1997, Crespo et al. 1998), the ornamentations of the seed coat surface in the Lobelioideae subfamily of Campanulaceae have a remarkable diagnostic value and also a phylogenetic significance. In fact, the testa structure of mature seeds is well defined and constant for a given species or group of allied species. As concerns Solenopsis, it was investigated by Serra & Crespo (1997), Crespo et al. (1998) and Brullo et al. (2013), who emphasized that the seed coat sculptures are quite similar in the species of this genus. In particular, the seed testa is longitudinally furrowed by long and narrow cells, which are incised on the back by a superficial groove. The SEM observation carried out on the subspecies of Solenopsis laurentia emphasized that although there are significant similarities in the features of their seed testa, some morphological differences can be detected, which represent an additional support to their taxonomic identification. In particular, the cells covering the seed testa show more differentiation in the subsp. caespitosa (Fig. 2C), since the periclinal walls are those to have a greater width (5–5.8 μm), while in the subsp. gasparrinii (Fig. 2B) they are those to have a smaller width (2.5–3 μm). Conversely, the other subspecies have periclinal walls of intermediate size between the previous two (4–5 μm). In addition, in the subsp. caespitosa (Fig. 2C) and subsp. hyblaea (Fig. 2D) the periclinal walls are flatter with shallow anticline walls. Otherwise, the other three subspecies have markedly convex periclinal walls and more furrowed anticlinal walls (Fig. 2). Finally, the subsp. laurentia (Fig. 2A) and subsp. parvula (Fig. 2E) are characterized by cells with periclinal and anticlinal walls very similar, but they differ markedly in the size of the seeds, since the first one has longer seed (0.40 mm), while the second one has smaller seed (0.35 mm). Pollen grains micromorphology: —SEM investigations carried out on dried pollen grains of Solenopsis laurentia subspecies revealed that all populations studied are 3-colporate with a perplorate shape. Their dimensions range from 26–46 μm in length and 13–16 μm in width, with sexine reticulate-striate characterized by branched lirae delimiting small lumina (Figs. 3–4). Previously, observations on pollen of this species s.l. were recorded by Dunbar (1975), who examined at light microscope an Iberian population without providing any photos of this material. As concerns the subspecies here examined, they show some morphological differences in the size and sexine ornamentations. In particular, the subsp. laurentia (Figs. 3A, 4A) is characterized by larger pollen grains (46 × 14 μm) with very prominent reticulum and lirae markedly anastomosed of variable thickness, with many lumina of different shape; the subsp. gasparrinii (Figs. 3B, 4B) has pollen grains slightly smaller than the previous one (40×16 μm) with more dense reticulum and lirae poorly anastomosed, with a few number of lumina smaller in size; the subsp. caespitosa (Figs. 3C, 4C) has even smaller pollen grains than the previous one (30 × 14 μm) with reticulum and lirae quite similar to subsp. laurentia; the subsp. parvula (Figs. 3D, 4D) has pollen grains smaller than the previous ones (26×15 μm) with flatter reticulum and lirae less prominent, the lumina numerous and quite large; the subsp. hyblaea (Figs. 3E, 4E) has pollen grains with similar size to previous ones (26 ×13 μm) with more compact reticulum and thick lirae, the number of lumina is less and usually smaller in size. Nomenclatural notes:—This species was described by Linnaeus (1753) as Lobelia laurentia, mentioning three synonyms: “ Laurentia annua minima, flore caeruleo ” Micheli (1729: 18, t.14); “ Rapunculus aquaticus repens, flore caeruleo inaperto ” Ray (1704, 383); ibid. Boccone (1697, 335, t.27). Among these syntypes, Crespo et al. (1996) designated the iconography illustrated by Micheli as lectotype. Since, it is a poorly detailed illustration that does not allow a precise application of the name to the taxon (art. 9.9., ICN, Turland et al. 2018), one herbarium specimen (FI) coming from Elba Island, which is its locus classicus (see Micheli 1729), is here designated as epitype. Besides, the name Lobelia gracilis Salisbury (1796: 129) is illegitimate, since it is a superfluous name for Lobelia laurentia, which Salisbury cited explicitly as synonym (art. 52.2, ICN). Later, Candolle de (1839: 409) transferred Lobelia laurentia to the genus Laurentia, proposing for it the new name Laurentia michelii, which represents a legitimate name (art. 23.4). Later, Todaro (1873: 160) also proposed Laurentia commutata as replacement name for Lobelia laurentia Linnaeus, but it represents an illegitimate name for Laurentia michelii DC. According to art. 10.2 (ICN), Lobelia laurentia was designated by Crespo et al. (1998: 216) as type of genus Solenopsis, described by Presl (1836), within which he included five species. This genus was treated as a section of the genus Laurentia by Endlicher (1838: 512), while Petermann (1845: 444) thought it better to consider it a subgenus of the latter (see Crespo et al. 1998). Etymology:—As epithet Linnaeus (1753) used the same name proposed by Micheli (1729) to commemorate M. A. Laurenti (1678–1772), famous medic of Bologna (Italy). Distribution and ecology: — Solenopsis laurentia is an annual hygrophilous plant growing usually with several other microphytes in the wetlands, represented mainly by temporary ponds, localizing often in very small surfaces. It likes stands with sandy-silty soils, drying up since the early spring, from coasts to sub-mountain belt throughout the Mediterranean area, Canary Islands included. According to literature data (Damboldt 1978, Mouterde 1978, Crespo et al. 1998, Sales & Hedge 2001, Le Floc’H et al. 2010, Dimopoulos et al. 2013, Fennane & Mathez 2014, Tison & de Foucault 2014, Brullo & Guarino 2018), this species is distributed in Portugal, Spain, Balearic Islands, France, Corse, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, Greece, Crete, Turkey, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Canary Islands. Based on our morphological investigations carried out on the living populations, Solenopsis laurentia is represented in the Italian territory by the following subspecies: Key to the subspecies of Solenopsis laurentia 1. Plant subacaule, stem 1.5–2.5 cm tall, flower pedicel 10–16 mm long, bracteoles 1–2 mm long............ S. laurentia subsp. parvula - Plant erect to subcaulescens, stem 2.5–13 cm tall, flower pedicel (10)20–80 long, bracteoles 2–5 mm long..................................2 2. Plant erect with solitary stem, only cauline leaves, calyx 3–4 mm long............................................................................................3 - Plant caespitose with several stems, leaves rosulate and cauline, calyx 4.1–5 mm long...................................................................4 3. Plant 8–13 cm tall, leaves 10–20 × 3–6 mm, calyx 3–4 mm long, corolla 5–6 mm long, papillae 0.12–0.30 mm long, 25–50 for each lobe, staminal filament 2.5–3.1 mm long........................................................................................ S. laurentia subsp. laurentia - Plant 2.5–7.0 cm tall, leaves 3–10 × 1–3 mm, calyx 2.7–3.0 mm long, corolla 3.4–4 mm long, papillae 0.08–0.16 mm long, 5–10 for each lobe, staminal filament 2 mm long........................................................................................ S. laurentia subsp. gasparrinii 4. Plant up to 12 cm tall, calyx lobes smooth, corolla 4.5–5.0 mm long, papillae up to 0.3 mm long, 43–60 per lobe, anther tube without hairs on the back, capsule 3.5–4.0 mm long........................................................................... S. laurentia subsp. caespitosa - Plant no taller than 7 cm, calyx lobes with one small tooth per side, corolla 4.0– 4.2 mm long, papillae up to 0.16 mm long, 12–30 per lobe, anther tube with hairs on the back, capsule 3 mm long............................................................. S. laurentia subsp. hyblaea, Published as part of Brullo, Salvatore, Brullo, Cristian, Cambria, Salvatore, Minissale, Pietro, Sciandrello, Saverio, Tavilla, Giuseppe Siracusa Gianmarco, Tomaselli, Valeria & Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del, 2023, Taxonomical remarks on Solenopsis laurentia (Campanulaceae) in Italy, pp. 59-88 in Phytotaxa 584 (2) on pages 63-71, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.584.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639258, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum, 2. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, pp. 561 - 1200.","Presl, C. B. (1836) Prodromus monographiae Lobeliacearum. Filiorum Theophili Haase, Prague, pp. 1 - 52.","Micheli, P. A. (1729) Nova plantarum genera iuxta Tournefortii methodum disposita. Bernardi Peperinii, Florentiae, 234 pp.","Salisbury, R. A. (1796) Prodromus Stirpium in Horto ad Chapel Allerton vigentium. Londini, 422 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 427","Candolle, A. de (1839) Lobeliaceae. In: Candolle, A. P. de (Ed.) Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis, 7 (2). Sociorum Treuttel et W ¸ rtz, Parisiis, pp. 339 - 413.","Colmeiro, M. (1887) Enumeracion y revision de las plantas de la Peninsula Hispano-Lusitanas e islas Baleares, 3. Imprenta dela Viuda e Hija de Fuentenebro, Madrid, 545 pp.","Todaro, A. (1873) Adnotationes ad Indicem Seminum horti regii botanici Panormitani ann. MDCCCLXXII. Nuovo Giornale Botanico Italiano 5: 156 - 160.","Murata, J. (1992) Systematic implications of seed coat morphology in Lobelia (Campanulaceae - Lobelioideae). Journal of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Section III, Botany 15: 155 - 172.","Murata, J. (1995) A revision of infrageneric classification of Lobelia (Campanulaceae - Lobelioideae) with special reference to seed coat morphology. Journal of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Section III, Botany 15: 349 - 371.","Serra, L. & Crespo, M. B. (1997) An outline revision of the subtribe Siphocampylinae (Lobeliaceae). Lagascalia 19: 881 - 888.","Crespo, M. B., Serra, L. & Juan, A. (1998) Solenopsis (Lobeliaceae): a genus endemic in the Mediterranean Region. Plant Systematic and Evolution 210: 211 - 229. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / BF 00985669","Brullo, C., Brullo, S. & Giusso Del Galdo, G. (2013) Solenopsis mothiana (Campanulaceae), a new species from Sicily. Phytotaxa 145 (1): 15 - 26. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 145.1.2","Dunbar, A. (1975) On the pollen of Campanulaceae and related families with special reference to the surface ultrastructure. II. Campaulaceae Subfam. Cyphoideae and Subfam. Lobelioideae; Goodeniaceae, Sphenocleaceae. Botaniska Notiser 128: 102 - 118.","Ray, J. (1704) Historia plantarum tomus tertius: qui est Supplementum duorum precedentium. Sam. Smith & Benj. Walford., Londini, 666 pp.","Boccone, P. (1697) Museo di piante rare della Sicilia, Malta, Corsica, Italia, Piemonte, e Germania. Baptista Zuccato, Venetia, 196 pp.","Turland, N. J., Wiersema, J. H., Barrie, F. R., Greuter, W., Hawksworth, D. L., Herendeen, P. S., Knapp, S., Kusber, W. - H., Li, D. - Z., Marhold, K., May, T. W., McNeill, J., Monro, A. M., Prado, J., Price, M. J. & Smith, G. F. (2018) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code) Regnum Vegetabile 159. Glashutten: Koeltz Botanical Books. https: // doi. org / 10.12705 / Code. 2018","Endlicher, S. (1838) Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita. F. R. Beck, Universitatis Bibliopolam, Vindobonae, pp. 401 - 604.","Petermann, W. L. (1845) Das Pflanzenreich in vollstandigen Beschreibungen dargestellt, nach dem nat ¸ rlichen Systeme geordnet und in naturgetreuen Abbildungen gezeichnet. Eduard Eisenach, Leipzig, 1010 pp.","Damboldt, J. (1978) Laurentia. In: Davis, P. H. (Ed.) Flora of Turkey and east Aegean Islands 6. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, p. 1.","Mouterde, P. (1978) Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, 3 (3). Dar El-Machreq, Beyrouth, pp. 205 - 364.","Sales, F. & Hedge, I. C. (2001) Solenopsis C. Presl. In: Paiva, J., Sales, F., Hedge, I. C., Aedo, C., Aldasoro, J. J., Castroviejo, S., Herrero, A. & Velayos, M. (Eds.) Flora Iberica, 14. Real Jardin Botanico, CSIC, Madrid, pp. 173 - 175.","Dimopoulos, P., Raus, T., Bergmeier, E., Costantinidis, T., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A. & Tizanoudakis, D. (2013) Vascular plants of Greece. An annotated checklist. Englera 31: 1 - 372.","Fennane, M. & Mathez, J. (2014) Campanulaceae. In: Fennane, M., Ibn-Tattou, M. & El Qualidi, J. (Eds.) Flora pratique du Maroc. Manuel de determination des plantes vasculaires, 3. Cana Print, Rabat, pp. 65 - 76.","Tison, J. M. & de Foucault, B. (2014) Flora Gallica: flore de France. Biotope editions, Meze, 1195 pp.","Brullo, S. & Guarino, R. (2018) Solenopsis C. Presl. In: Pignatti, S., Guarino, R. & La Rosa, M. (Eds.) Flora d'Italia, ed. 2. Edagricole, Milano, 735 - 736 pp."]}

Brullo, Salvatore, Brullo, Cristian, Cambria, Salvatore, Minissale, Pietro, Sciandrello, Saverio, Tavilla, Giuseppe Siracusa Gianmarco, Tomaselli, Valeria, Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del (2023): Taxonomical remarks on Solenopsis laurentia (Campanulaceae) in Italy. Phytotaxa 584 (2): 59-88, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.584.2.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.584.2.1

The populations usually attributed to Solenopsis bivonae (Tineo) M.B.Crespo, Serra & A.Juan are investigated from a taxonomical and morphological viewpoint. Within this species complex, four new subspecies occurring in Sicily and Calabria are recognized, such as subsp. bivonae, subsp. madoniarum, subsp. peloritana and subsp. brutia. In addition, a new species from Cyprus described as S. meikleana and S. bacchettae from Sardinia must be included in this group. The synonymy, typification, description, seed testa morphology, chorology, ecology, illustrations, conservation status, and examined specimens for each taxon are provided. Besides, the analytical keys, distribution maps, and phytosociological arrangement regarding these taxa are given too.

Ephedra strongylensis Brullo, C. Brullo, Cambria, Ilardi, Siracusa, Minissale & Giusso sp. nov. (Figs. 1–6) Type: ITALY. Sicily: Isole Eolie, Stromboli, Ginostra presso S. Lazzaro, 38°46’48” N, 15°11’46”E, 4 July 2022, S . Cambria s.n. (holotype, CAT; isotypes, CAT). Diagnosis: — This species is similar to Ephedra aurea, but it differs in its twigs with smaller diameter, leaves with a green triangular rib, male cones with a very longer pedicel and bracts shorter, synangiophore shorter with few synangia, female cones with very longer pedicel and bracts shorter and rounded at the margin, the lower and medium bracts longer connate, the upper one more briefly connate, ovule longer exserted from the upper bract, female strobilus at maturity smaller, with bracts pale red, seeds smaller, ellipsoid, longer exserted from the upper bracts Description: —Dioecious subshrub, erect, 40–100 cm tall, old stems woody, erect or procumbent, bark brownish-gray. Twigs erect, fasciculate and densely inserted at the nodes, green, cylindrical, finely furrowed and scabrous along the ribs, 0.8–1.2 mm in diameter; internodes 1–3.5(–5)cm long, not easily disarticulating. Leaves opposite, 1–1.25 mm long, membranous, fused for most of their length, briefly free and not recurved at the apex, each with an acute green triangular rib on the back and a coriaceous basal ring, turning brown at maturity. Male cones ellipsoid, 4–7 mm long, 4–7 mm in diameter, long pedicellate, with pedicel 2.5–6 (–10) mm long, usually opposite; bracts binate in 3–6 pairs, ovate, acute, connate per 1/2–3/4, 0.5–1 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, ovate; perianth exserted from the subtending bract, obovate, 2 mm long, deeply bilobed; synangiophore 2–2.5 mm long, long exserted from perianth, with 3–5 synangia, sessile, densely aggregated at top. Female cones uniovulate, ellipsoid, isolated to 4-clustered, 5.5–6.5 mm long, 2.5– 3.5 in diameter, long pedicellate, with pedicel 2.5–10 mm long; bracts green connate in 3 pairs, broadly ovate, rounded at apex, hyaline at the edges, connation ranging 4/ 5 in lower bracts, 1/2–2/ 3 in middle bracts and 2/ 3 in upper bracts; lower bracts 0.5–1 mm long, middle bracts 1.5–2 mm long and upper bracts 4.5–5 mm long, shortly mucronate at the apex; ovule 4–4.5 mm long, ellipsoid, 1.5–2.5 mm exserted from upper bracts; micropilar tube straight, ca 1.5 mm long, exserted 0,7– 1 mm from the ovule. Female strobilus at maturity ovoid to globose-ovoid, 6–7 × 3.5–4 mm, with bracts always pale red. Seeds 5–5.5 × 2.5–2.6 mm, blackish-brown, slightly striated longitudinally, fusiform, exserted 1–2 mm from upper bracts. Etymology: — The specific epithet refers to “ Strongyle ”, Latin name of Stromboli, island of the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily). Phenology: —It is a dioecious plant flowering in April–May and producing seeds from July to August. Seed micro-morphology:—On the basis of SEM analyzes, the seeds of Ephedra strongylensis have a fusiform shape, with dimensions of 5–5.5 × 2.5–2.6 mm (Fig. 7A). The seed testa is differentiated by short longitudinal rectangular cells, 16–28 × 4–6 μm, separated by a slight groove (Fig. 7B–C). The anticlinal walls are thin and flat, with a slight central incision, while the periclinal ones are smooth and slightly convex. In relation to Ickert-Bond & Rydin (2011) observations, this type of ornamentation does not seem frequent in Ephedra. Seed coat similar, but with cells clearly longer and characterized by periclinal walls flat and rugose, with anticlinal walls quite raised were detected in E. aurea by Brullo et al. (2022, Fig. 5A). As concerns the seed coat of E. fragilis, as emphasized by Ickert-Bond & Rydin (2011), it is very different, since the cells are 50–150 μm long with periclinal walls convex. Pollen morphology:—Micromorphological investigations carried out on pollen grains of Ephedra strongylensis emphasized that it belong to type “A” (cf. Bolinder et al., 2016), showing an elliptical shape rounded at the poles, with 12–16 plicae, very compact and rounded on the back, ca. 4–5 μm high, with unbranched and linear line in the groves (pseudosulci), the absolute size (equatorial lenght and diameter) is 46–50 × 20–27 μm (Fig. 8). Therefore, the E. strongylensis pollen shows close relationships with that one of other Mediterranean species, such as E. fragilis Desf., E. foeminea Forssk. and E. aurea Brullo et al., though in the latters it is morphologically well differentiated, since usually characterized by 8–12 plicae (see Norbäck Ivarsson 2014, Bolinger et al. 2015, 2016 and Brullo et al. 2022). As regards a possible affinity between E. strongylensis and E. distachya, it must be excluded, since the latter has longer pollen belonging to type “B”, with 4–8 plicae and branched pseudosulci (Norbäck Ivarsson 2014). Distribution and ecology: — Currently, Ephedra strongylensis was exclusively surveyed on the island of Stromboli and the nearby islet of Strombolicchio in the Aeolian archipelago (Sicily), where it grows in two limited stands (Fig. 9). Here it is localized on basaltic rocks, originated from ancient lava eruptions, where it is a member of xerophilous maquis characterized by Euphorbia dendroides Linnaeus (1753: 462), Pistacia lentiscus Linnaeus (1753: 1026), Olea europaea Linnaeus (1753: 8), Artemisia arborescens (Vaillant, 1754: 338) Linnaeus (1763: 1188), Genista tyrrhena Valsecchi (1986: 145) subsp. tyrrhena, etc. (Fig. 5). It should be noted that the flora of the Aeolian islands (including Stromboli and Strombolicchio) hosts several endemic or rare species, often showing a remarkable taxonomic isolation, whose occurrence has no clear correlation with the relatively recent origin of this volcanic archipelago. Among the most significant taxa, the following can be mentioned: Genista tyrrhena subsp. tyrrhena, Cytisus aeolicus Gussone (1834: 221), Bituminaria basaltica Minissale, C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso & Sciandrello (2013: 2), Centaurea aeolica Gussone ex Lojacono (1903: 136), Silene hicesiae Brullo & Signorello (1984: 141), Erysimum brulloi G. Ferro (2009: 298), Anthemis aeolica Lojacono (1903: 84), Eokochia saxicola (Gussone 1855: 275) Freitag & G. Kadereit in Kadereit & Freitag (2011: 72), Dianthus rupicola Bivona Bernardi (1806: 31) subsp. aeolicus (Lojacono 1888: 163) Brullo & Minissale (2002: 539), Hyoseris taurina Martinoli (1953: 257) and Limonium tenuiflorum (Gussone 1832: 89) Kuntze (1891: 395). Therefore, with the addition of Ephedra strongylensis to this list, the degree of biodiversity of this small but interesting satellite islands of the Sicily, is further increased. According to Mercuri et al. (2020), it is interesting to note that for this island the occurrence of Ephedra individuals was recorded in some pollen profiles dating back to the modern era corresponding to the last centuries after the Middle Ages. Basing on this data, it seemed to have a scarce diffusion in the vegetation of the island, as it is currently observable. Conservation status: − Ephedra strongylensis can be considered a very rare and localized species, recorded only in two locations (Stromboli and Strombolicchio). Based on its narrow distribution and according to IUCN (2012) criteria, the species can be assessed as “Critically Endangered” [CR, B1ab(ii,iii) and B2ab(ii,iii)]. The conservation status was calculated through the GeoCAT (Geospatial Conservation Assessment Tool) programme (Bachman et al. 2011), which shows an Area of Occupancy (AOO) of 8 km 2. Moreover, the new species fall within a nature reserve named “Riserva Naturale Orientata Isola di Stromboli e Strombolicchio”, as well as in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC ITA030026). In relation to our observations, Ephedra strongylensis can be threatened only by occasional fires or possible lava flows since the island is an active volcano, which could reduce the number of individuals, which are concentrated in two main known populations. Additional specimens of Ephedra strongylensis examined (Paratypes):— ITALY. Sicily: Isole Eolie, Strombolicchio, sulla sommità, 38°49’01” N, 15°15’06” E, 27 May 2021, D. Azzaro, S . Cambria & V. Ilardi s.n. (CAT!); Stromboli, Ginostra presso S. Lazzaro, su substrati basaltici, 27. May 2021, D. Azzaro, S . Cambria, V. Ilardi & R. Zaia s.n. (CAT!); Stromboli, Ginostra presso S. Lazzaro, su substrati basaltici, 15 July 2021, R . Zaia s.n. (CAT!); Stromboli, Ginostra presso S. Lazzaro, su substrati basaltici, 6 August 2021, S . Cambria s.n. (CAT!). Taxonomic remarks: —From the taxonomical viewpoint, Ephredra strongylensis is rather isolated morphologically from the other currently known Mediterranean species of this genus. This new species shows some relationships mainly with E. aurea, especially in sharing twigs not easily disarticulating at the nodes, finely furrowed and scabrous, leaves opposite, very short and fused for most of their length, turning brown at maturity, female cones uniovulate and pollen grains of type “A”, but significant features hallow to distinguished very well the two species. In particular, E. aurea shows twigs, pedicels of male cones, male cones bracts, synangiophore, synangia, pedicels of female cones, female cones bracts, micropilar tube, fruiting strobilus, and seeds well differentiated from those ones of E. strongylensis (see Tab. 1).In addition, they also differ in the seed coat ornamentations, since E. aurea is characterized by very larger cells (170–250 × 28–35 μm) bordered by a prominent reticulum, with periclinal walls flat more or less rugose and anticlinal walls quite raised (see Brullo et al. 2022), while E. strongylensis has smaller cells (16–28 × 4–6 μm) separated by slender grooves, with periclinal walls sligtly convex more or less smooth and anticlinal walls thin and flat. Some differences was observed in the size and shape of pollen grain, since E. aurea has the pollen fusiform acute at the poles (43–48 × 17–20 μm) with 11–12 plicae acute on the back (see Brullo et al. 2022), conversely E. strongylensis has pollen elliptical rounded at the poles (46–50 × 20–27 μm) with 12-16 plicae rounded on the back. ......continued on the next page On the basis of field and herbarium investigations, in Sicily there are certainly only 3 species of Ephedra, in addition to that new one here described, they are: E. nebrodensis, E. fragilis, E. aurea and E. strongylensis. Besides, according to literature data (Conti et al. 2005, Giardina et al. 2007, Pignatti 2017) E. distachya is also recorded from Sicily, according mainly to old reports in sandy coastal areas, where it was probably present in the past, but where it is completely disappeared today, due to anthropogenic factors. It is therefore included in the analytical key that is here provided, Published as part of Brullo, Salvatore, Brullo, Cristian, Cambria, Salvatore, Ilardi, Vincenzo, Siracusa, Giuseppe, Minissale, Pietro & Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del, 2022, Ephedra strongylensis (Ephedraceae), a new species from Aeolian islands (Sicily), pp. 250-264 in Phytotaxa 576 (3) on pages 251-261, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.576.3.2, {"references":["Ickert-Bond, S. M. & Rydin, C. (2011) Micromorphology of the seed envelope of Ephedra L. (Gnetales) and its relevance for the timing of evolutionary events. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172 (1): 36 - 48. https: // doi. org / 10.1086 / 657299","Brullo, S., Brullo, C., Cambria, S., Ilardi, V., Siracusa, G. & Giusso del Galdo, G. (2022) Ephedra aurea (Ephedraceae), a new species from Sicily. Phytotaxa 530 (1): 1 - 20. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / phytotaxa. 530.1.1","Bolinder, K., Norback Ivarsson, L., Humphreys, A. M., Ickert-Bond, S. M., Han, F., Hoorn, C. & Rydin, C. (2016) Pollen morphology of Ephedra (Gnetales) and its evolutionary implications. Grana 55 (1): 24 - 51. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00173134.2015.1066424","Norback Ivarsson, L. (2014) Pollen morphology in Ephedra (Gnetales) and implications for understanding fossil ephedroid pollen from the Tibetan Plateau, using a phylogenetic approach. Master Thesis, Systematic Botany Biology. Stockholms Universitet, 28 pp.","Linnaeus, C. (1753) Species Plantarum. Imprensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 1200 pp.","Vaillant, S. (1754) Neue Kennzeichen dreyer von Pflanzen mit zusammeengegesetzeten Blumen, namlich: der Cynarocefalarum, derer mit Artischockenhauptern. Corymbiferarum, die zusammengestzte, scheibenformige Blumen tragen. Cichoracearum, weg-wartartiger. Koniglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Paris Physische Abkanlungen 5: 333 - 377.","Linnaeus, C. (1763) Species Plantarum, ed. 2. Imprensis Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, 1684 pp.","Valsecchi, F. 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Philippum Barravecchia, Panormi, 84 pp.","Brullo, S. & Minissale, P. (2002) Il gruppo di Dianthus rupicola Biv. nel Mediterraneo centrale Informatore Botanico Italiano 33 (2): 537 - 548.","Martinoli, G. (1953) Studio citotassonomico dei generi Hyoseris e Robertia con particolare riferimento all' Hyoseris taurina G. Martinoli sp. nov. (Asteraceae). Caryologia 5 (3): 253 - 281. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00087114.1953.10797444","Gussone, G. (1832) Florae Siculae Prodromus, Supplementum 1. Ex Regia Typographia, Neapoli, pp. 1 - 166.","Kuntze, O. (1891) Revisio Generum Plantarum, 2. Charles Klinckieck. Paris, pp. 377 - 1011.","Mercuri, A. M., Cannavo, V., Clo, E., Di Renzoni, A., Florenzano, A., Rattighieri, E., Yoon, D., Levi, S. T. (2020) Palynology of San Vincenzo-Stromboli: Interdisciplinary perspective for the diachronic palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of an island of Sicily, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 30: 102235. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jasrep. 2020.102235","IUCN (2012) IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. Second edition. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iv + 32 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.1600 / 0363644042451143","Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A. W., Torre, de la J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. In: Smith, V. & Penev, L. (Eds.) E-Infrastructures for data publishing in biodiversity science. ZooKeys 150: 117 - 126. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 150.2109","Conti, F., Abbate, G., Alessandrini, A. & Blasi, C. (2005) An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora. Palombi & Partner, Roma, 424 pp.","Giardina, G., Raimondo, F. M. & Spadaro, V. 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Key to the species of Ephedra genus occurring in Sicily 1. Female cones always biovulate........................................................................................................................................ E. distachya - Female cones usually uniovulate........................................................................................................................................................2 2. Twigs 0.4–0.7 in diameter, upper bracts of female cones fused for 1/3–1/2 of its length, female cones 5.0– 5.5 mm long, ripe female cones 5.0–6.0 mm long................................................................................................................................................. E. nebrodensis - Twigs 0.8–3.5 in diameter, upper bracts of female cones fused for 2/3–7/8 of its length, female cones 5.5–9.0 mm long, ripe female cones 6.0–9.0 mm long.......................................................................................................................................................................3 3. Branches easily disarticulating, smooth or slightly scabrous along the ribs, leaves in whorls of 3 (sometimes opposite), leaves fused for 2/3 of their length, female cones 7.–9.0 mm long, ovule 5.5–6.0 mm long................................................................... E. fragilis - Branches hardly disarticulating, more or less scabrous along the ribs, leaves always opposite, leaves 2–3 mm long fused for most of their length, female cones 5.5–7.0 mm long, ovule 4.0– 4.5 mm long...........................................................................................4 4. Twigs 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter, female cones with upper bract 6.0– 6.5 mm long, micropilar tube ca. 2.5 mm long, ripe female strobilus 7.0–8.0 mm long with bracts yellow-gold, seed long-ovoid, 6.0– 6.5 mm long, exserted 0,5– 1 mm from upper bracts....................................................................................................................................................................................................... E.aurea - Twigs 0.8–1.2 mm in diameter, female cones with upper bract 4.5–5 mm long, micropilar tube ca. 1.5 mm long, ripe female strobilus 6.0–7.0 mm long with bracts pale red, seed ellipsoid, 5.0– 5.5 mm long, exserted 1–2 mm from upper bracts....................................................................................................................................................................................................... E. strongylensis, Published as part of Brullo, Salvatore, Brullo, Cristian, Cambria, Salvatore, Ilardi, Vincenzo, Siracusa, Giuseppe, Minissale, Pietro & Galdo, Gianpietro Giusso Del, 2022, Ephedra strongylensis (Ephedraceae), a new species from Aeolian islands (Sicily), pp. 250-264 in Phytotaxa 576 (3) on page 261, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.576.3.2