ABSTRACT: Field investigations in the Sicilian territory allowed study of Pleurotus basidiomata locally referred to as "dabs" and growing in association with Elaeoselinium asclepium subsp. asclepium. Evaluation of morphological, ecological and distribution data permitted discrimination of these populations from other closely-allied Pleurotus taxa growing on Umbellifers, such as P. eryngii var. eryngii, P. eryngii var. ferulae and P. nebrodensis. Therefore, it is described as a new variety, Pleurotus eryngii var. elaeoselini.

KEYWORDS: taxonomy, ecology, Mediterranean area, Pleurotus, Umbellifers

NOMENCLATURAL NOVELTIES:
Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Fr. var. elaeoselini Venturella, Zervakis & La Rocca, p. 420