Prunus zielinskii (Browicz) Kosiński, D. Tomasz. & Ziel. 2023

Raab-Straube, Eckhard von & Raus, Thomas, 2023, Euro + Med-Checklist Notulae, 16, Willdenowia 53 (1), pp. 57-77 : 71

Prunus zielinskii (Browicz) Kosiński, D. Tomasz. & Ziel. , comb. nov.

≡ Amygdalus zielinskii Browicz in Karaca Arbor. Mag. 1: 126. 1992.

Due to the results of the latest molecular studies indicating that there was a need for a broad treatment of the genus Prunus (Rosaceae) , it has also been necessary to correct some of the names of the species that were previously included in narrowly understood taxa at the rank of genus, including Amygdalus L. ( Lee & Wen 2001; Bortiri & al. 2002, 2006). In the case of almonds, this adjustment has already been made for nearly all known species ( Eisenman 2015), except for the relatively recently described A. zielinskii ( Browicz 1992) . That species has not yet had a formal name validation in the genus Prunus L., and in the POWO database ( POWO 2023c), its name has been marked as “unplaced”.

Prunus zielinskii is a range-restricted taxon, so far known from several localities in SC Turkey, on the border of the provinces of Antalya and Mersin. It is similar to P. argentea Rehder ( Amygdalus orientalis Mill. ), a species widespread in SW Asia ( Post 1896; Townsend & al. 1966; Browicz 1972; Zohary 1972), but differs from the latter primarily by its smaller, clearly serrated leaves and less permanently hairy shoots, becoming completely glabrous in the next growing season.

P. Kosiński, D. Tomaszewski & J. Zieliński