Contribution to the cytotaxonomical knowledge of the genus Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae). III. New karyological data from the central Mediterranean area

New karyological data for the genus Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae) are presented and discussed. First chromosome counts for the following taxa are provided: G. chaberti A. Terracc. (2n = 36) from Tunisia; G. sicula Lojac. (2n = 24, 36) and G. chrysantha Schult. et Schult. f. sensu stricto (2n = 36) from Sicily, including their respective loci classici. Chromosome complement of G. mauritanica Durieu (2n = 36) from S France and from a new locality from Apulia (S Italy) is reported. Detailed karyotype structure of the recently described C Italian endemic G. tisoniana Peruzzi, Bartolucci, Frignani et Minut. (2n = 24), G. dubia (2n = 48), G. foliosa (J. et C. Presl) Schult. et Schult. f. (2n = 36) and G. granatellii (Parl.) Parl. (2n = 36) are also reported, for the first time. G. bohemica (Zauschn.) Schult. et Schult. f. resulted tetraploid (2n = 48) in plants from Abruzzo (C Italy) and from locus classicus of G. busambarensis (Tin.) Parl. (Rocca Busambra, NW Sicily), while a new 2n = 72 cytotype is recorded for the first time (Madonie, NW Sicily). Finally, G. villosa (M. Bieb.) Sweet from Abruzzo resulted tetraploid (2n = 48)