A study of <i>Sarcocornia</i> A.J. Scott (Chenopodiaceae) from Western Mediterranean Europe

The latest publications on <i>Sarcocornia</i> taxonomy and phylogeny recognize six taxa in this genus on the Iberian Peninsula: <i>S. perennis</i>, <i>S. fruticosa</i>, <i>S. alpini</i>, <i>S. alpini</i> subsp. <i>carinata, S. hispanica</i>, and <i>S. pruinosa</i>. The present study represents a comprehensive revision of the different taxa in the <i>Sarcocornia</i> genus present in Western Mediterranean Europe by means of morphological, micromorphological and phylogenetic internal transcribed spacer (ITS) analysis. Morphological and micromorphological data were studied from <i>Sarcocornia</i> samples from 113 populations in coastal salt marshes and inland salt pans in Portugal, France, Spain and Italy. Sixteen new ITS sequences were obtained from Mediterranean <i>Sarcocornia</i> species and analysed together with previous reported data. Published karyological, ecological and biogeographical data from Western Mediterranean Europe were also reviewed. The results indicate the presence of a new species, <i>S. lagascae</i>, found growing in coastal Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The species <i>S. fruticosa</i> was found to be absent from the Iberian territories.