Article

The somatic chromosome number, karyotype morphology, geographical distribution and ecology of five plant species from the indigenous flora of southern Italy and Sicily are presented. The study includes in particular four species of Allium subgen. Allium (Allium agrigentinum, A. apulum, A. diomedeum, A. chamaespathum), Ptilostemon greuteri and Salvia ceratophylloides. Five out six of these species are strict endemics and all of them are very rare and differently threatened based on the IUCN criteria. Karyotype microphotographs for all taxa are provided and their karyotype morphology is discussed.