Abstract
In this paper, Allium ducissae (the LSID for the name Allium ducissae is: 77254606-1) is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. It grows in crevices on calcareous rocks, rocky slopes and grassy ledges in the subalpine belt, within two regional protected areas in the Lazio and Abruzzo administrative regions (Central Apennines, Italy). Previously, these populations were attributed to A. strictum, a species described from Siberia, belonging to A. sect. Reticulatobulbosa. The new species is distinct from A. strictum in the morphology of vegetative and reproductive structures. Indeed, it is close to A. palentinum, an endemic species to Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). Both molecular and morphological data support the recognition of the Allium populations coming from the Central Apennines as a new species. Allium ducissae can be clearly distinguished from A. palentinum by longer and wider tepals, longer filaments, tooth of inner filament, flower pedicels, spathe appendage, and smaller seeds. Moreover, seed testa micro-sculptures revealed slight differences between A. ducissae and A. palentinum. Chromosome counts showed that A. ducissae is diploid with 2n = 16 chromosomes, as already known for A. palentinum. Molecular analyses support the affiliation of A. ducissae and A. palentinum to A. sect. Falcatifolia, contrary to what is known for the latter species, usually included in A. sect. Daghestanica. Finally, the IUCN assessment for the newly described species is proposed and briefly discussed.
Highlights
The genus Allium L. (Amaryllidaceae) is one of the richest and largest monocotyledonous genera, comprising about 1000 species [1,2]
The present study aims to critically review the taxonomy and systematics of some peculiar Allium populations occurring on the mountains of the Central Apennines in the Lazio and Abruzzo administrative regions (Italy)
These populations are currently attributed to A. strictum Schrad. [9,11,12,13,14,15], a species described from Siberia [16] belonging to A. subgen
Summary
The genus Allium L. (Amaryllidaceae) is one of the richest and largest monocotyledonous genera, comprising about 1000 species [1,2]. The present study aims to critically review the taxonomy and systematics of some peculiar Allium populations occurring on the mountains of the Central Apennines in the Lazio and Abruzzo administrative regions (Italy). These populations are currently attributed to A. strictum Schrad. Based on a preliminary morphological analysis, these populations showed peculiar features, and turned out to be morphologically different from A. strictum, and obviously cannot belong to the same species [21] These populations are distinguished from A. strictum by coriaceous bulb tunics (vs reticulate), leaves with smooth margins (vs scabrous-denticulate margins), stamens that are long-exserted (vs usually slightly longer than perianth segments), inner filaments with an acute tooth on each side (vs rounded tooth), and conical stigma These results, and the disjunct and isolated geographical distribution of the populations occurring in the Central Apennines, allow us to refer to them as a species new to science, named Allium ducissae
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