A new species of Brassica sect. Brassica(Brassicaceae) from Sicily

Abstract

Among the suffruticose cabbages of Brassica sect. Brassica, a new species from Sicily, named B. raimondoi, is described and illustrated. It is a chasmophyte restricted to some steep limestone cliffs near Taormina (NE Sicily) and is morphologically related to B. incana, with which it shares densely hairy, broad, amplexicaul leaves and winged petioles, but differs principally in its white corolla, larger floral pieces, more developed stigmatic papillae, shorter siliquae with keeled valves and a smaller, seedless beak, smaller seeds differing in testa microsculpture. A key for the identification of the currently known Sicilian taxa of the section is provided.

Keywords::

• Brassica
• Brassica oleracea group
• endemic
• karyology
• Sicily
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Girolamo Fichera (Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Catania University) for SEM preparations of seeds and micrographs. The financial support of Catania University (Fondi d'Ateneo per la Ricerca) is gratefully acknowledged.