Anthyllis dalmatica (Fabaceae), a New Endemic Species from Croatia

Abstract

Abstract— Following a morphometric approach, in this paper a new species, Anthyllis dalmatica , is described and illustrated from Croatia (Southeastern Europe). It belongs to the A. vulneraria species complex (Fabaceae), a poorly investigated and critical taxonomic group for Eurasian vascular flora. The new species is a restricted endemic to the montane belt of Mt. Mosor in central Dalmatia, where it grows on limestone rocky slopes. Anthyllis dalmatica is morphologically closely related to the Italian endemic A. apennina , occurring in the central Apennine, from which it differs by a less-wide calyx, a lower ratio between standard limb length and width, a wider standard, and by the color of corolla and calyx at flowering time, which are dark yellow. Based on current knowledge, we propose that A. dalmatica should be included in the category critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN criteria. To promote its recognition and conservation, a new key to the taxa belonging to the A. vulneraria species complex from Croatia is also proposed.