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Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-01
Page range: 245–256
Abstract views: 26
PDF downloaded: 1

A new species of Silene sect. Dipterosperma (Caryophyllaceae) from Malta

Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta
Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta
Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania (Italy)
Catchfly Central Mediterranean basin IUCN sect. Dipterosperma taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

Silene melitensis, a new species beonging to the sect. Dipterosperma, is described and illustrated from Maltese Archipelago. This therophyte occurs along the calcareous rocky coast of Malta and Gozo islands, where it grows within the ephemeral meadows together with many halophytes. Based on its prostrate-ascending habit and succulent leaves, S. melitensis shows some morphological similarities with S. nummica and S. crassiuscula, both included in the S. colorata group. S. melitensis differs from S. nummica in having inflorescence more flowered, petals smaller, claw on the back pubescent in the midrib, capsule bigger, carpophore shorter and seed with undulate wings, while it differs from S. crassiuscula in having scapes branched at the base, calyx tomentose-hirsute and shorter, petal limb shorter, coronal scales shorter and undulate, ovary shorter and seed larger. An diagnostic key of the taxa belonging to the sect. Dicterosperma is provided.