Isoëtes todaroana (Isoëtaceae, Lycopodiophyta), a new species from Sicily (Italy)

Abstract

Isoetes todaroana, a new species from western Sicily (Italy), is described. Morphological, anatomical and ecological characters are given. The main differential characters are the presence of only two leaf air chambers, rather than four as in all other known species of the genus, and the shape of the scales, which have two lateral rounded lobes and one central spine-like lobe, together with its peculiar calcophilic habitat. So far, the species is known from a single locality.