A peer-reviewed open-access journal PhytoKeys 119: 117–136Allium (2019) albanicum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Balkans... 117 doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.119.30790 RESEARCH ARTICLE http://phytokeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Allium albanicum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Balkans and its relationships with A. meteoricum Heldr. & Hausskn. ex Halácsy Salvatore Brullo1, Cristian Brullo2, Salvatore Cambria1, Giampietro Giusso del Galdo1, Cristina Salmeri2 1 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Catania University, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy 2 Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), Palermo University, Via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy Corresponding author: Cristina Salmeri (
[email protected]) Academic editor: L. Peruzzi | Received 26 October 2018 | Accepted 9 January 2019 | Published 11 April 2019 Citation: Brullo S, Brullo C, Cambria S, Giusso del Galdo G, Salmeri C (2019) Allium albanicum (Amaryllidaceae), a new species from Balkans and its relationships with A. meteoricum Heldr. & Hausskn. ex Halácsy. PhytoKeys 119: 117–136. https://doi.org/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 loca- tions. 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.