A new species of Astragalus L. sect. Sesamei DC. (Leguminosae) from the southeast of Spain: Astragalus castroviejoi

Abstract

We describe a new species of Astragalus section Sesamei from the semiarid zone of SE Spain: Astragalus castroviejoi. Morphologically the new species resembles A. sesameus L. and A. stella L. and we provide a key to distinguish the three species. A. castroviejoi is a diploid species with 2n = 16, the same chromosome number as A. sesameus and A. stella. We provide an image of the karyotype, together with an illustration of the new species and a map of its distribution. Since the existing populations are restricted in area, we also provide an estimate of the conservartion status of this species according to the criteria of the IUCN.

Keywords

• astragalus castroviejoi
• leguminosae
• sect. sesamei
• karyology
• morphology
• conservation