Saponaria emineana (Caryophyllaceae), a new species from inner Anatolia, Turkey

Saponaria emineana (Caryophyllaceae) is illustrated and described as a new species endemic to the inner part of West Anatolia, Turkey. It is related to S. pamphylica and differs from that species in having a densely tufted habit with compact and much-branched woody base, subfleshy, narrowly oblanceolate-spathulate basal leaves, petal limbs bifid at most to or., pink anthers and capsules with 25-30 seeds. Saponaria pamphylica has a less caespitose habit with fewer branches at base, non-fleshy leaves, petal limbs divided to c. 1/2, white anthers and capsules with fewer (c. 20) seeds. Pollen and seed samples of both species were compared using light microscopy and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and found to be similar.