Abstract

In the Flora of Turkey, the taxonomic concept of Muscari massayanum sensu Davis & Stuart was given based on five herbarium specimens and a photograph. In the original study, type location of the species was not specified, but its photograph and brief morphological features were included. In current study, herbarium samples given by Davis & Stuart under the description of the species in the Flora of Turkey were examined, and as a result of field studies conducted at the locations where these samples were collected, it was determined that the aforementioned description included M. massayanum, as well as the later published M. erdalii, and a new taxon yet to be named. As a result of comparative and detailed morphological studies to solve this confusion, a new species, Muscari erzincanicum (Asparagaceae) from Turkey, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to M. massayanum and M. erdalii, but differs from both by the flower, fruit and seed characteristics.