Scilla bilgineri Yıldırım (Asparagaceae) is described here as a new species. Diagnostic morphological characters, a full description, and detailed illustrations are provided on the basis of the type specimens and observations of wild populations. | Turkish Journal of Botany Research Article Turk J Bot (2017) 41: 88-95 © TÜBİTAK doi: Scilla bilgineri (Asparagaceae: Scilloideae): a new species of Scilla L. from eastern Turkey Hasan YILDIRIM*, Yusuf ALTIOĞLU Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: Scilla bilgineri Yıldırım (Asparagaceae) is described here as a new species. Diagnostic morphological characters, a full description, and detailed illustrations are provided on the basis of the type specimens and observations of wild populations. The new species is characterized by whitish to very pale lilac tepals, variegated ovary; style 5–6 mm long; oblong, straw to pale yellow and cucullate seed; pale creamy-white elaiosome, which is adherent to the testa; and pinkish to reddish, fleshy bulb scales. It belongs to Scilla bifolia agg. and is related to S. bifolia and S. albinerve within. It is easily distinguished from all other species on the basis of these morphological characters. Key words: Taxonomy, Scilla, Adıyaman, Turkey 1. Introduction According to Govaerts (2015), the total number of Scilla L. species is 91, with distribution in Europe, Africa, and western Asia. The taxonomic status of the genus Scilla and Scilla species has been evaluated in several taxonomical studies (Speta, 1998a, 1998b; Stedje, 1998; Pfosser and Speta, 1999). Mordak (1984) specified that the genus Scilla is represented by 14 species in Turkey. In the last checklist of Turkish plants (Yıldırım, 2012), 16 Scilla species and a hybrid were reported in Turkey, and of these 17 taxa in total 6 species are endemic to Turkey (Yıldırım, 2012). The status of S. persica and S. siehei (Baker) Speta was resurrected in this last check list of Turkish plants (Yıldırım, 2012). In 2013, an unusual and morphologically very different Scilla species was .
