Leontodon albanicus (F.K.Meyer) F. Conti

Conti, Fabio, 2018, A new combination in Leontodon (Asteraceae, Cichorieae), Phytotaxa 360 (3), pp. 287-291 : 288-289

Leontodon albanicus (F.K.Meyer) F. Conti , comb. & stat. nov. ( Figs. 1–2)

Basionym:— Leontodon incanus subsp. albanicus Meyer (2011: 170) .

Type:— ALBANIA. Mali i Gjer (Mali Gjinezh), zwischen Qafa Gradishtit und Qafa Piloit, ca. 1400 m, 26 June 1959, F. K.Meyer 3397 (holotype JE, [digital image]!).

Emended description:—Perennial with a taproot and 1 unbranched stem up to ca. 20 cm tall. Stem ribbed with short stalked 5–9-fid hairs; bracts 0–3. Basal leaves rosulate, 40–130 × 5–30 mm, oblanceolate, sinuate-dentate, greyishgreen, with dense, stalked (4–) 8 (–9)-fid hairs on both surfaces. Capitulum solitary. Involucre 13–22 mm, phyllaries linear-lanceolate, in several rows, outer with sparse to dense flexuose long stalked 2–8-fid hairs, pectinate-ciliate with stellate hairs in the upper part. Ligules yellow. Achene 5–6 mm with minute rigid hairs above, narrowed towards apex. Pappus off-white, 9–11 mm long, denticulate or plumose with a few longer hairs 0.4–0.6 mm. Flowering from end of May to beginning of July, fruiting in July.

Distribution and habitat:—The species is endemic to southern Albania and Greece, in a restricted area. It is known from Gjirokastër district (Rrethi i Gjirokastrës) near Fushë Bardhë and Mt. Nëmerçkë.

Additional specimens examined:— ALBANIA. District of Gjirokastër (Rrethi i Gjirokastrës) ; above the valley of brook “Pirdu” near Fushë Bardhë, between pass Dardhë and Mt Lucë ; in deciduos forest, on limestone, 40.09258 N 19.96774 E, 650 m, 21 May 2011, Z. Barina, H. Mező & D. Pifkó 19216 ( BP!) ; idem, 40.0935 N 19.96225 E, 1500 m, 21 May 2011, Z. Barina, H. Mező & D. Pifkó 19217 ( BP!) ; Nemercka, near the summit (Maja e Papingut ), calcareous scree slopes, 2180 m, 40°08’05’’N 20°24’33’’E, 12 July 2012, Conti & Manilla s.n. ( APP Nos. 48886!, 55528!) ; Tra Poliçan e la vetta del Mt. Nëmerçkë , pendii rupestri e pascoli, 2300 m, 26 June 2015, F. Conti, D. Lakušić, R. Di Pietro, N. Kuzmanović, A. Stinca, S. Durović, I. Janković, R. Pennesi ( APP No. 56996!) ; Mt. Nëmerçkë, circo glaciale principale, pendii rupestri, 28 June 2015, F. Conti, R. Di Pietro, A. Stinca, R. Pennesi ( APP Nos. 57114!, 57115!, 57118!) ; Nemërçkë, Dousko , 40.064832 N, 20.479923 E, alt. 1960 m, alpine grasslands, Daphno-Festucetea limestone, 24 June 2015, D.Lakušić, N. Kuzmanović, S. Đurović, I. Janković ( BEOU No. 42346) . GREECE. Ioannina Nemërçkë, Dousko, 40.06297N, 20.48703E, alpine grasslands, Daphno-Festucetea limestone, 24 June 2015, D.Lakušić, N. Kuzmanović, R. Di Pietro, S. Đurović, I. Janković ( APP No. 56301!) .