Last two hundred individuals: Rediscovery of scilla mesopotamia speta (Hyacinthaceae), a threatened endemic species in Turkey

Abstract

In this paper, the rediscovery of endemic and long missing species, Scilla mesopotamica Speta which had been only known from the type gathering, is given. The species has not been collected again after Sintenis in 1888, whose specimens served Speta for description of the new taxon. In 2004, the authors found it in a steppic rocky area, near Halfeti in Şanliurfa province, South East Anatolia, Turkey. After analyzing Sintenis' original collection notes, they concluded that this area is identical with the type locality. 5. mesopotamica has an extremely limited distribution and is represented by less than 200 specimens in the single known population that covers less than 50 m2. Taxonomy of the species, detailed description with illustrations, geographical distribution, habitat, ecology and status of IUCN extinction risk and some comments on conservation of the plant are also presented.