The first European record of Gymnocarpos sclerocephalus (Paronychia sclerocephala, Sclerocephalus arabicus, Caryophyllaceae), from the semidesert of Tabernas (Almería, Andalusia, Spain), is presented. After a diagnostic description and ecological interpretation of the species, we provide arguments in favour of its native status in that Spanish region and explore the geographic and historical causes explaining the local occurrence of this and a number of other biogeographically analogous species.

Citation: Le Driant F. & Carlón L. 2020: The Saharo-Arabian Gymnocarpos sclerocephalus (Caryophyllaceae) new to Europe in the semideserts of Almería, Spain. – Willdenowia 50: 187–194.

Version of record first published online on 12 May 2020 ahead of inclusion in August 2020 issue.