NORMANIA, AN ENDEMIC MACARONESIAN GENUS DISTINCT FROM SOLANUM (SOLANACEAE)

Morphological data and results from scanning electron microscopy of se eds and pollen show that Normania LOWE [syn. Solanum L. subg. Potatoe (G. DON) D'ARCY sect. Normania (LOWE) BITTER] (Solanaceae: Solaneae) s hould be considered as a distinct genus from Solanum L. It has two spe cies, one restricted to the island of Madeira [Normania triphylla (LOW E) LOWE] and the other to Tenerife and Gran Canaria [Normania nava (WE BB & BERTHEL.) FRANC.-ORT. & R. N. LESTER]. These species are extremel y rare and had not been found for about 100 years, until N. nava was r ediscovered in two different localities in Tenerife in 1973 and 1982. Normania triphylla was reported in two different places from northern Madeira in 1991. Both species have the highest conservation priority i n the Macaronesian region.