A morphometric reassessment of Armeria dalmatica (Plumbaginaceae) from Dalmatia, Croatia

Armeria dalmatica is a local endemic species from Croatia, originally described by Beck in 1898. Its taxonomic status has been interpreted differently over time, causing confusion among botanists. According to most official data sources, A. dalmatica is currently not accepted as a distinct species and is considered a synonym of A. canescens. A morphometric study, carried out on populations of both A. dalmatica and the closely related A. canescens, revealed clear morphological differentiation between the two taxa. The results of this study indicate that the most diagnostic morphological characters are: sheath length, spikelet bract width, calyx tube length, calyx limb length, and awn length. An identification key for distinguishing A. canescens from A. dalmatica is provided. Finally, the distribution and ecology of A. dalmatica have been revised, leading to the conclusion that it is a halophyte as well as a halotolerant species, growing in only a few localities in North Dalmatia.