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Type: Article
Published: 2017-01-25
Page range: 161–170
Abstract views: 31
PDF downloaded: 1

A new species of Lavandula sect. Lavandula (Lamiaceae) and review of species boundaries in Lavandula angustifolia

Natural History Museum of Calabria and Botanic Garden, University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende (Cosenza), Italy
Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende (Cosenza), Italy.
Royal Horticultural Society, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, GU24 6QB, UK.
chemical profile essential oil morphology Southern Italy taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

A remarkable new lavender from southern Italy which has long been treated as L. angustifolia and superficially resembles this montane species from the French and Italian Alps. However, it differs in key characters, most notably the inflorescence, corolla structure, calyx indumentum, bract form and essential oil profile. It is here described as a new species and thus required review of the current status of the subspecies recognised. The plants endemic to the Pyrenees are raised to species level (L. pyrenaica) for consistency of treatment, supported by morphological and DNA data.