comb. nov.

Bas.: Allium trifoliatum Cirillo subsp. obtusitepalum Sventenius (1960: 3)

Type (lectotype, here designated):— SPAIN. Canary Islands. Alegranza: Caldera, in humonis fissuris rupinus. Sat. Pauca, 14 April 1954, E.R. Sventenius s.n. (ORT!; Fig. 9).

Identification key to Allium canariense and its close relatives

1. Scape very short; umbel subsessile in a basal rosette of hairy leaves (Western and Central Mediterranean) ... Allium chamaemoly

- Umbel borne on conspicuous scape ................................................................................................................................................. 2

2. Leaves glabrous, often scabridulous at margin ................................................................................................................................ 3

- Leaves (at least sheath) hairy or long–ciliate at margin ................................................................................................................... 6

3. Scape triquetrous, rarely terete; umbel nodding in bud; perigone segments white; anthers pale green (Northern Mediterranean region to Egypt) ................................................................................................................................................ Allium neapolitanum

- Scape terete; umbel not nodding in bud ........................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Perigone segments unicolored pink, 9–13 mm long (Mediterranean) ....................................................................... Allium roseum

- Perigone segments white or white to flushed pink, up to 7.5 mm long ........................................................................................... 5

5. Perigone segments white, inflorescence sub-globose, leaves full-length ciliate (Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Morocco) ..... .............................................................................................................................................................................. Allium subvillosum

- Perigone segments white to flushed pink, inflorescence fascicular to sub-fascicular, leaves only slightly ciliate at the base (Canary Islands) ................................................................................................................................................................. Allium canariense

6. Pedicels 3–5 times as long as the white perigone segments; anthers usually brown. (Northern Mediterranean region to Egypt) ..... ............................................................................................................................................................................. Allium subhirsutum

- Pedicels 1.5–3 times as long as the white, often pink flushed perigone segments; anthers yellow. (France to Eastern Mediterranean) ...................................................................................................................................................................... Allium trifoliatum