Giovanni Astuti

An updated checklist of the vascular flora native to Italy.

Abstract An updated inventory of the native vascular flora of Italy, providing details on the occurrence at regional level, is presented. The checklist includes 8195 taxa (6417 species and 1778 subspecies), distributed in 1092 genera and 152 families; 23 taxa are lycophytes, 108 ferns and fern allies, 30 gymnosperms and 8034 angiosperms. The taxa currently occurring in Italy are 7483, while 568 taxa have not been confirmed in recent times, 99 are doubtfully occurring in the country and 19 are data deficient. Out of the 568 not confirmed taxa, 26 are considered extinct or possibly extinct.

Phylogenetic relationships of Italian Bellevalia species (Asparagaceae), inferred from morphology, karyology and molecular systematics

The seven Bellevalia species and subspecies known from Italy, representing about 10% of the genus and three out of six sections, were studied. An integrated morphological, karyological and molecular approach was used to infer phylogenetic and systematic relationships among them. B. romana (the generitype) is the most distinctive species on karyotype asymmetry grounds. B. boissieri and B.dubia, usually considered as subspecies of one species (the latter endemic to Sicily), deserve specific status based on biparental nrDNA markers (internal transcribed spacer, ITS), since they do not form a single clade. The allotetraploid endemic B. pelagica, morphologically similar to B. romana, is sister to the latter under parsimony, both in morphological and ITS trees; it is also related with B. dubia, based on karyotype asymmetry and a uniparental cpDNA marker (trnL(UAA)–trnF(GAA) IGS (intergenic spacer)). A second allotetraploid endemic, B. webbiana, is closely related, on morphological, karyological and molecular grounds, with B. boissieri and B. ciliata, and also with B. trifoliata, three species that might all involved in its origin. B. sect. Conicae Feinbr. and sect. Nutantes Feinbr. are here typified, the former (type: B. ciliata) is most likely a synonym of the latter (type: B. trifoliata).

Phylogenetic relationships among tetraploid species of Bellevalia (Asparagaceae) endemic to south-central Mediterranean

Abstract In the south-central Mediterranean four tetraploid species of Bellevalia occur: B. dolichophylla, B. galitensis, B. mauritanica, and B. pelagica. Another group of plants, morphologically similar to B. dolichophylla, has been recently recovered in Zembra Island (Tunisia). A phylogenetic reconstruction involving all these tetraploid taxa was performed using both plastidial and nuclear markers (trnL-trnF and ITS, respectively). For all these taxa, an allopolyploid origin involving B. romana and B. dubia is supported. Regarding plants from Zembra, they may fall within the variability of B. dolichophylla.

Narrow endemic species Bellevalia webbiana shows significant intraspecific variation in tertiary CSR strategy

Abstract Insufficient attention has been devoted to inter-population and inter-individual variability of CSR strategy. Hence, we selected Bellevalia webbiana as a case study for answering the following questions: (1) is there a significant intraspecific variability in leaf traits determining a significant intraspecific variability in CSR parameters, even in a narrow endemic species with a relatively homogeneous habitat? (2) If yes, does this provide a significant intraspecific CSR strategy variation? For five populations, we calculated C, S, and R parameters using leaf area, leaf fresh weight, and leaf dry weight for 10 individuals each. We found that Bellevalia webbiana is a “CS” species considering single individuals, populations or the “whole species”. However, our data suggest a significant loss of information if the species is plotted as a single average point, and attest for population-based plasticity, highlighting the applicability of CSR theory at micro-evolutionary scale. When heterogeneity in coefficients of variation (CVs) is higher for the “whole species”, “deviant” populations should be retained as additional points. Hence, we advise to perform CSR analyses on more populations and verify the applicability of a single ternary set to represent the “whole species” using PERMANOVA, complemented by simple CV comparison for each parameter.

Are shoots of diagnostic value in Central European bladderworts (Utricularia L., Lentibulariaceae)?

Abstract In central Europe, seven native species of Utricularia occur, mainly distinguished by flower features. They can be subdivided in three aggregates according to shoot morphology: (1) Utricularia intermedia aggr., also comprising Utricularia ochroleuca and Utricularia stygia, (2) Utricularia vulgaris aggr., also comprising Utricularia australis and (3) Utricularia minor aggr., also comprising Utricularia bremii. We tested some shoot features as identification tools and investigated quadrifid digestive glands in all the studied species, using geometric morphometrics. For U. intermedia aggr., in most cases, the tooth number per ultimate leaf segment may be diagnostic. The three species of this aggregate overlap in terms of gland shape, but averaging measurements by traps and individuals, a decrease of overlapping among species was found. The shape and the centroid size of quadrifid glands in U. minor aggr. is unsuitable for discriminating species. Concerning U. vulgaris aggr., U. vulgaris bears a higher ratio of setula length to tooth length than U. australis (which is more toothed). This feature may help to distinguish species, but conflicting results were found in one studied population. The relevance of quadrifid gland features as identification tool and the puzzling systematic circumscriptions of the target species are discussed.

Contributi per una flora vascolare di Toscana.VIII (440-506).

Jsou předkladany nove lokality a/nebo potvrzeni týkajici se 67 rostlinných taxonů toskanske flory cevnatých rostlin, ktere patři k 59 rodům a 37 celedim.