# Mentha deleoi (Lamiaceae): A New Species from Sicily

## TL;DR

A new mint species, Mentha deleoi, is discovered in Sicily and requires conservation due to its limited habitat and small population.

## Contribution

The discovery and description of a new endemic Mentha species from Sicily with conservation recommendations.

## Key findings

- Mentha deleoi is a new perennial herb species from Sicily with morphological similarities to M. pulegium.
- The species has a restricted distribution and small population size, necessitating conservation efforts.
- Chemical and ecological analyses were conducted to support the species' description and conservation plan.

## Abstract

Mentha deleoi is described from Isola Grande, an islet in the Stagnone of Marsala (Trapani, NW Sicily), included within the homonymous Regional Oriented Nature Reserve. It is a perennial herb with an ephemeral annual cycle; in several morphological characters, it shows affinity with M. pulegium, a Eurimediterranean hemicryptophyte widely distributed in Sicily from coastal areas to high mountain habitats. Diagnostic and differential characters are provided, together with analyses of the biology, ecology, and chemistry of this new Sicilian endemic species. Owing to its extremely restricted distribution, small population size, and the potential impacts affecting the islet and its fragile habitat, resulting from centuries saliculture, a conservation plan is proposed, aimed at both in situ and ex situ protection.