A new species of the Centaurea busambarensis complex (Asteraceae) from the Nebrodi Mountains in Sicily (Central Mediterranean region)

Abstract

A new population of Centaurea, belonging to the C. busambarensis complex, was recently discovered in the Nebrodi Mountain (northeastern Sicily). Individuals of this population show some peculiar characters differentiating it from the nine currently recognized species of the C. busambarensis complex in Sicily. To validate this differentiation, we conducted a statistical analysis on the morphological characters. The results indicated that this new population is sufficiently distinct to deserve recognition as a separate species. In this context, we provide a detailed description and illustrations of the newly identified species, which we name C. haluntina. This new species is a punctiform endemic to the lower Nebrodi Mountains.