Limonium ×erbenii (Plumbaginaceae), new hybrid taxon for the Southeastern Iberian flora

Lucía Miranda-Hernández; Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez; María Jesús Fernández-Cobo; Encarna Merlo; Carlos Salazar-Mendías; Antonio J. Mendoza-Fernández; Fabián Martínez-Hernández; Francisco J. Pérez-García; Juan F. Mota

doi:10.24310/abm.51.2026.22810

Authors

Lucía Miranda-Hernández Spain https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1288-4447
Esteban Salmerón-Sánchez Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2237-0163
María Jesús Fernández-Cobo Spain
Encarna Merlo Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8410-3490
Carlos Salazar Mendías Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9448-1460
Antonio Mendoza Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7577-6634
Fabián Martínez Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5124-5492
Francisco J. Pérez-García Spain
Juan F. Mota Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5754-279X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/abm.51.2026.22810

Keywords:

interspecific hybrid, morphometrics, new nothospecies, nrDNA, sea lavanders, Taxonomy

Abstract

Limonium ×erbenii, a hybrid resulting from the interspecific cross between Limonium estevei Fern. Casas and Limonium cossonianum Kuntze, is here described as a new nothospecies based on the morphological and molecular characterization of five individuals collected in Macenas, at the base of Sierra de Cabrera (Mojácar, Almería, SE Spain), where it coexists with the parental taxa. The morphological analysis included the measurement and comparison of 39 diagnostic characters to evaluate the intermediacy of the hybrid accessions relative to the parental species. For the molecular characterization, the ITS region of ribosomal nrDNA was amplified, sequenced and analyzed to detect potential additive polymorphic sites (APS). Results revealed a mosaic of parental and intermediate morphological traits, a typical pattern of a first-generation hybrid (F₁), and the presence of APS indicative of the coexistence of ribotypes inherited from both parental species within the hybrid’s genetic background. Altogether, these findings provide strong evidence confirming Limonium ×erbenii as the product of natural hybridization between L. cossonianum and L. estevei.

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