A new species of Orobanche (Orobanchaceae) from the Balearic Islands

Abstract

This paper describes a new species, Orobanche iammonensis A.Pujadas & P.Fraga [section Orobanche L. grex Minores (Beck) Teryokhin] from the west coast of Minorca, Balearic Islands. The new species inhabits coastal rocky slopes and is parasitic on Anthemis maritima L. It is a small yellow plant characterized by a dense inflorescence with erecto-patent to subpatent pale yellow flowers and by eglandular and glandular hairs at the base of the corolla. The morphological features suggest a relationship of this new species to grex Minores, especially to O. litorea Guss., a plant distributed widely in the central Mediterranean. A complete description is given in this paper, including the diagnostic characteristics which allow the differentiation from O. litorea and other related taxa. Data on ecological and conservation status are also presented. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London.