Ornithogalum sphaerolobum und seine Doppelgänger

Ornithogalum sphaerolobum Zahar. which is characterized by imbricate bulb leaves, epigeal cotyledon, capsules with little protruding costae, with style only (1-) 1.5-2 (-3.3) mm long, chromosome number 2n = 22 and SAT-zones intercalary, was recorded in Turkey for the first time. This new locality is not far from the “locus classicus” on the Greek island Kastellorizo. Suspiciously similar plants from diverse localities with short style were found to be a distinct new species, i. e. O. anamurense Speta, also with epigeal cotyledon, chromosome number 2n = 22, but with terminal SAT-zones characterized by concrescent bulb leaves. O. munzurense Speta has chromosome number 2n = 26 and imbricate bulb leaves. Both species occur in Asia Minor. O. collinum Guss. subsp. rhodium Speta with imbricate bulb leaves, hypogeal cotyledon, chromosome number 2n = 18 and interkalar SAT-zones grows on the island of Rhodos. O. immaculatum Speta occurs on the Ionean Islands and the adjacent Greek mainland. It is characterized by imbricate bulb leaves, a hypogeal cotyledon, chromosome number 2n = 14 and terminal SAT-zones. It can be easily distinguished from O. gussonei Ten. because it lacks the brown point at the connective. The different juvenile stadia which develop to an imbricate adult bulb are demonstrated by using O. immaculatum as an example. The first inflorescence is developed as early as in the 3rd or 4th year.