New combinations for two hybrids in Salvia subg. Rosmarinus (Lamiaceae)

New combinations for two hybrids in Salvia subg. Rosmarinus (Lamiaceae

Personal private herbaria: a valuable but neglected source of floristic data. The case of Italian collections today

Today private collections still represent an important source of information as is evident from the available literature, where, in many cases, private collections are mentioned both in floristic and taxonomic/systematic researches. We present a summary of the main information about private herbaria in Italy, whose collections are currently increasing. Based on our survey, we retrieved information on 34 personal herbaria where 156,361 specimens are preserved at present. Piedmont and Tuscany resulted the two Italian regions with the highest number of collections, whereas for 9 regions we obtained no answer. The most represented families resulted Asteraceae and Poaceae, whereas the most represented genera resulted Carex, Trifolium, and Hieracium. Taken all together, these collections rank 16th among the 68 institutional public herbaria officially recognised in Italy

Le Nuove segnalazioni floristiche italiane: uno spazio comune per i floristi italiani

Storia della rubrica “Segnalazioni Floristiche Italiane” dal 1978 ad oggi e presentazione della relativa sezione nel Notiziario della Società Botanica Italiana

A morphometric and karyological study of Onobrychis calabrica (Fabaceae), a neglected species endemic to Calabria, S Italy

A morphometric (multivariate and univariate) and karyological study of Onobrychis calabrica Sirj. (Fabaceae), compared to O. alba subsp. echinata (Guss.) P. W. Ball and O. supina (Chaix ex Vill.) DC., was carried out. According to our results, twelve morphological characters clearly support the distinctiveness of O. calabrica. In addition, the latter species is tetraploid with 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes, whereas the other two taxa are diploid with 2n = 2x = 14 chromosomes. The names O. calabrica and O. handel-mazzettii Sirj. (a heterotypic synonym of O. supina) are lectotypified here. Onobrychis calabrica, a narrow endemic to SE Calabria, S Italy, is here assessed as Critically Endangered CR B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii) following IUCN Red List categories and criteria

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 2.

In this contribution new chromosome numbers for Italian endemic taxa are presented. It includes 13 chromosome counts for Ornithogalum (Asparagaceae), Anthemis, Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Hieracium, Taraxacum (Asteraceae), Asyneuma (Campanulaceae), Knautia (Caprifoliaceae), Gypsophila (Caryophyllaceae), Linum (Linaceae), Helleborus (Ranunculaceae)

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 2.

In this contribution new chromosome numbers for Italian endemic taxa are presented. It includes 13 chromosome counts for Ornithogalum (Asparagaceae), Anthemis, Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Hieracium, Taraxacum (Asteraceae), Asyneuma (Campanulaceae), Knautia (Caprifoliaceae), Gypsophila (Caryophyllaceae), Linum (Linaceae), Helleborus (Ranunculaceae)

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 1.

In this contribution new chromosome data obtained on material collected in Italy are presented. It includes 15 chromosome counts for Carduus, Crepis, Picris, Taraxacum (Asteraceae), Ceratonia, Lathyrus (Fabaceae), Colchicum (Colchicaceae), Fritillaria (Liliaceae), Petrorhagia (Caryophyllaceae), Potentilla (Rosaceae), Quercus (Fagaceae), Reseda (Resedaceae), and Thymus (Lamiaceae)

Comparative assessment of reproductive traits across different habitats in the endangered Webb's hyacinth (Bellevalia webbiana Parl.)

To pursue a proper conservation of narrow endemic species, the knowledge of basic reproductive strategies is crucial to plan adequate conservation activities. One of the most evolutionarily relevant and threatened Italian endemic is the Webb’s hyacinth (Bellevalia webbiana Parl.). As the reproductive behaviour of this species and its connection with human impact are currently unknown, the aim of this study was to characterise the reproductive traits of the Webb’s hyacinth in contrasting habitats. All the 5 known richest populations across the species range were investigated. Their reproductive strategies were inferred by measuring inflorescence height, fruit set, seed set and P/O ratio. Reproductive features varied greatly amongst stands and also in relation to the degree of human disturbance. However, in all cases, seed sets showed low values. P/O values point towards full xenogamy and it is concluded that effective cross-pollination may be the main mode of sexual reproduction in Bellevalia webbiana. The reasons for the low reproductive performances may reside in pollen limitation, Allee effect and/or intrinsic reduced fertility of the species. Given this scenario, conservation efforts for Webb’s hyacinth should focus on maintaining large and relatively dense populations, to guarantee some chance of in situ survival

Phytochemical data parallel morpho-colorimetric variation in Polygala flavescens DC

Phytochemical data, integrated with other sources of information, represent a valuable tool helping to solve different kinds of taxonomic problems in plant systematics. In the present study, a comparative investigation, in order to clarify the systematic relationships of the three subspecies currently recognized within the Italian endemic Polygala flavescens, was carried out. Preliminarily, a morphometric and colorimetric analysis, in order to test the degree of morphological distinctiveness among the taxa, was performed. Then, a phytochemical analysis based both on volatile and non-volatile compounds was obtained. Concerning the morpho-colorimetric analysis, our results confirm most of the characters as useful to discriminate the three subspecies. In addition, some volatile and non-volatile compounds are good taxonomic markers. Morpho-colorimetric variation is clearly paralleled by phytochemical results, confirming the value of this kind of data to infer relationships in plant systematics. Based on these results, we support a taxonomic treatment at subspecific level for the involved taxa. Finally, based on the most significant morphological characters, a revision of herbarium specimens allowed to redefine the distribution pattern of the three subspecies. Accordingly, the range of P. flavescens subsp. maremmana is limited to Mt. Argentario (southern Tuscany) only. A key is also reported for the identification of the three subspecies

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 6

In this contribution, new chromosome data obtained on material collected in Italy are presented. It includes three chromosome counts for Bupleurum baldense Turra, Colchicum lusitanum Brot., and Euphorbia gasparrinii Boiss. subsp. gasparrinii