A new spineless species of Vella (Brassicaceae) from the high mountains of south-eastern Spain

Abstract

Vella castrilensis sp. nov. is described from the high mountains of Granada and Jaén provinces (south-eastern Iberian Peninsula), where it grows on calcareous soils. It is a hexaploid (2n = 68) spineless dwarf shrub, woody at the base, with oblong-lanceolate, entire to shallowly dentate leaves and fruit with an acute tongue-shaped stylar segment and strongly reticulate-nerved valves. The characteristic unique combination of vegetative, karyological and reproductive features of V. castrilensis is not present in any described taxon of the genus, and warrants recognition at the species rank. Affinities and differences with other related taxa are discussed. Phylogenetic, biogeographical, bioclimatic, ecological data and conservation proposals are also reported. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London.