Phylogenetic position and taxonomy of the enigmatic (Orobanchaceae), a predominatly Asian species newly found in Albania (SE Europe).

We report on the occurrence of in the Alpet Shqiptare (Prokletije, Albanian Alps) mountain range in northern Albania (Balkan Peninsula). The species was previously known only from eastern-most Europe (Volga-Kama River in Russia), more than 2500 km away, and from adjacent Siberia and Central Asia. We used morphological evidence as well as nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences to show that the Albanian population indeed belongs to and that its closest relative is the European , but not as assumed in the past. Both and parasitize Ranunculaceae ( spp. and , respectively). We provide an identification key and a taxonomic treatment for , and suggest the IUCN category CE (critically endangered) for the highly disjunct Albanian population.