<I>Campanula skanderbegii</I>: Molecular and Morphological Evidence of a New <I>Campanula</I> Species (Campanulaceae) Endemic to Albania

Abstract

Abstract A new species of Campanula from Central Albania, named C. skanderbegii, belonging to isophyllous Campanula ser. Garganicae is illustrated and described. Morphologically and phylogenetically it is well differentiated from other species of this series. It is morphologically similar to C. portenschlagiana from Central Dalmatia (Croatia) based on corolla shape. Phylogenetic analyses, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference, based on nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL—trnF data support C. skanderbegii as a clearly distinct taxon within the isophyllous species of Campanula. A distribution map for C. skanderbegii and a key to all species of Campanula ser. Garganicae are provided. Because of its rarity and highly restricted distribution, C. skanderbegii should be included in the IUCN red list as a critically endangered species.