Abstract
Heterogeneity of the Allium saxatile group in the Crimea was highlighted ca. 80 years ago by Wulff in Flora Taurica, but it was not studied due to lack of adequate collections. Allium tarkhankuticum, a new species from the A. saxatile group (sect. Oreiprason), is described here from the western Crimea. A description is based on living plants and fresh herbarium specimens. Allium tarkhankuticum is an endemic of steppe habitats of the Tarkhankut Peninsula and adjacent areas with a type locality near Novoozernoye on Lake Donuzlav. Diagnostic characters are presented (including an identification key) to distinguish the new species from other Eastern European and Caucasian species of the A. saxatile group. Many inland localities of A. tarkhankuticum in virgin Crimean steppes were destroyed as a result of land use change in the mid-20th century. Taxonomy of the whole group is still unresolved. Plants from Mount Agarmysh (eastern foothills of the Crimean mountains) do not correspond with either A. marschallianum or A. tarkhankuticum. Caucasian A. saxatile in its current circumscription needs further investigation.