Ononis varelae (Fabaceae), a new species to the Portuguese flora

Two specimens of Ononis varelae Devesa were collected by the authors in 2024 at two different locations within the Odeleite River valley in Serra do Caldeirão, Algarve. Initially believed to be the first gatherings of this species in Portugal, a thorough examination of herbarium material revealed an earlier specimen from the same region, collected in 1969. These records extend to the west the known distribution range of this species, previously considered endemic to the Sierra Morena, in southwestern Spain. Plants were found in similar habitat conditions to the ones described in the literature. Therefore, it should be added to the Portuguese vascular flora as a native species and considered as an Iberian endemic. It is preliminarily assessed as Endangered in Portugal, following the IUCN red list criteria.