Table 1.

Geographical distribution, habitat preference, flowering period and breeding system of the taxa of the Nigella arvensis complex (after Strid 1970 and modified according to Bittkau & Comes in press). Note that most taxa occur at low altitudes (approx. 0–500 m a.s.l.) except for Nigella arvensis ssp. glauca (0–1000 m a.s.l.) and Nigella icarica (500–1000 m a.s.l.).

Nigella taxon	geographical distribution	habitat	flowering period	breeding system
N. arvensis L.
ssp. arvensis	N Greece/Europe and N Africa	cultivated/abandoned fields	VI–IX	outcrosser
ssp. aristata (Sibth. and Sm.) Nym.	S and C Greek mainland, Euboea	phrygana, abandoned fields, roadsides	mid-V–VII	outcrosser
ssp. glauca (Boiss.) Terracc.	E Aegean islands, W Turkey, Thrakia	phrygana, abandoned fields, olive groves	VI–VIII	outcrosser
ssp. brevifolia Strid	Elafonisos (south of Peloponnisos) W Cretea, Rhodes	phrygana, abandoned fields, roadsides	VI–VIII	outcrosser
N. carpatha Strid	S Karpathos, Kasos	phrygana	mid-V–mid-VII	outcrosser
N. degenii Vierh.
ssp. degenii	C and S Cycladesb	phrygana, cultivated fields, seashores	VI–VII	outcrosser
ssp. barbro Strid	NW Cyclades (Andros, Tinos, Mikonos)	phrygana, roadsides, seashores	mid-V–mid-VII	outcrosser
ssp. jenny Strid	NW Cyclades (Siros)	phrygana, abandoned fields	end-V–mid-VI	outcrosser
ssp. minor Strid	S Cyclades (Pakhia, south of Anafi)	phrygana	end-V–VI	outcrosser
N. icarica Strid	Ikaria	phrygana	VI–VII	outcrosser
N. doerfleri Vierh.	Andikithira, Cyclades, Crete	phrygana	end-IV–mid-V	selfer
N. stricta Strid	Kithira, SW Crete	stable sand dunes	mid-IV–mid-V	selfer

^aKnown from only four locations on Crete (Strid 1970; Z. Kypriotakis 2002, personal communication).

^bKnown from the following islands: Amorgos, Andiparos, Folegandros, Kimolos, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Santorin, Sifnos, Sikinos.