A new species of Isatis (Brassicaceae) from the Pollino National Park (Basilicata, S Italy)

A new species, Isatis raimondoi (Brassicaceae) is described from Mt Alpi in the Pollino National Park (Basilicata, Southern Italy). Its relationships with the other species of Isatis occurring in Italy are examined

A new species within the Centaurea busambarensis complex (Asteraceae, Cardueae) from Sicily

The Centaurea busambarensis group is made up by eight species endemic to Sicily. We statistically evaluated a population found on the Nebrodi Mountain (NE Sicily) to verify if the observed morphological differences with the already known taxa justified the description of a new one. It resulted in being sufficiently distinct to deserve recognition at the species level.Centaurea valdemonensis, a new species endemic to Sicily is described and illustrated here. It is confined to the Nebrodi Mountains (NE Sicily). The distinction of this taxon from the others belonging to the C. busambarensis complex has been supported with the aid of statistical analyses on morphological characters. The differences with the related taxa are discussed

Beyond the Scent: New Evidence about Micromorphological, Phytochemical and Biological Features of Plumeria rubra ‘Tonda Palermitana’ (Apocynaceae)

Plumeria rubra L. is an ornamental Caribbean plant widely known for its ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities. The ‘Tonda Palermitana’ cultivar, on which no data are to date available, is commonly cultivated in Sicily. The aim of our study was to characterize the micro-morphological features of leaves and flowers of this cultivar by light and Scanning Electron Microscopy and to investigate the phytochemical profile and the biological properties of their foodgrade extracts (LE and FE, respectively) by LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis and different in vitro assays. Numerous branched laticifers were observed, and their secretion contained alkaloids and lipophilic compounds as confirmed by histological analyses. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of alkaloids (9%), terpenoids (13%) and fatty acids (6%), together with a very abundant presence of iridoids (28%) and polyphenols (39%). The most notable biological activity of both extracts appears to be the antioxidant one, showing half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) about 5 times lower than those detected in anti-inflammatory assays (383.74 ± 5.65 and 232.05 ± 2.87 vs. 1981.23 ± 12.82 and 1215.13 ± 10.15, for FE and LE, respectively), with LE showing the best, and statistically significant (p < 0.001), biological activity. These results allow us to speculate promising nutraceutical and cosmeceutical applications for this old Sicilian cultivar

Taxonomic remarks on Isatis tinctoria (Brassicaceae) from Pollino National Park (Basilicata, Italy)

Isatis L. (Brassicaceae) is an Eurasian genus including 79 species (1). It is one of the most difficult cruciferous genera (2). Some species, in fact, are highly polymorphic in fruit morphology, the structures that provide the most diagnostic characters (3). In addition, due to the extreme variability in all morphological characters, the limits of many species are uncertain (4). Most if not all diagnostic characters used in earlier classifications are very variable and because of the unreliability of vegetative and floral characters it is difficult or impossible to identify many specimens when mature fruits are missing (5). The patterns of variation suggest that hybridisation may be widespread (4). Moreover, intermediate specimens are rather frequent, even between some taxa that are morphologically easily recognisable (4). In Italy, according to Conti & al. (6), Isatis is represented by 3 species: I. apennina Grande (= I. allioni P.W.Ball), endemic to Italy and France (south-west Alps and central Apennine), I. praecox Kit., an European taxon restricted to Lombardia, and I. tinctoria L., an Asiatic species widespread in central and south Italy. Floristic investigations in the Pollino National Park (on the Lucanian side) led to the discovery of a little population referable to I. tinctoria. However, a comparative study of the plants showed that they differ in many relevant characters. The fact that this Lucanian population has morphological dissimilarities involves its critical revision that could bring to a new taxonomic delimitation

Mediterranean plant karyological data

For the first time, the chromosome number was determined for 5 species of the genus Pyrus L. (Rosaceae) from Armenia, viz. P. daralaghezii, P. hyrcana var. yeghegisi, P. medvedevii, P. oxiprion, P. takhtadzhianii, and the previous count of chromosome number for P. caucasica was confirmed. All the explored species have a diploid chromosome number 2n = 34 with the basic chromosome number x = 17.This study has been funded by the projects Proyectos Intramurales Especiales (202330E114) and Functional and evolutionary insights into reproductive biology: the capitulum of Asteraceae as a model system (COMPOSITAE) (PID2020-116480GB-100), and by the Catalan government (2021SGR00315)Introduction Materials and methods Results and discussio

Using drone imagery and group field activities for an in-depth investigation of the vascular flora: a case study in the Rocca di Novara Massif (NE Sicily, Italy)

Rocky habitats are suitable refuges for numerous rare and endemic plants. Due to their inaccessibility and the unreliability of traditional survey methods, assessing the survival status of these plants is quite a hard task. In order to address this sampling issue, we employed the drones and carried several field activities to investigate the vascular flora of Rocca di Novara massif located in Northeastern Sicily (NE Sicily hereafter). Located on the southern border of the Peloritani Mountains, Rocca di Novara, also known as Rocca Salvatesta, is a small carbonate massif and it represents one of the highest and most characteristic peaks in NE Sicily. According to our investigation, 300 taxa have been recorded, belonging to 189 genera and 51 different families. The results obtained show the presence of 13 endemic species to Italy (4.3%) and 12 strictly endemic to Sicily (4%). Some taxa of high phytogeographical value have been detected, such as Aubrieta columnae subsp. sicula, Daphne oleoides subsp. oleoides, Edraianthus graminifolius subsp. siculus, Fritillaria messanensis, Odontites bocconei subsp. bocconei, Phelipanche gussoneana, Saxifraga callosa subsp. australis. This latest species was rediscovered after 100 years on the high cliffs of Rocca di Novara thanks to the use of the drone imagery. Our results provide valuable insights into the floristic diversity of Rocca di Novara and offers a solid starting point for further phytogeographical and floristic studies on the vascular plants of the Peloritani district

Chromosome numbers for the Italian flora: 13

In this contribution, new chromosome data obtained on material collected in Italy are presented. It includes the first count for Dianthus carthusianorum subsp. tenorei, Helosciadium nodiflorum, Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. cilentanum, H. lesimanum, H. scopolioides, H. terraccianoi. In addition, first Italian counts for Crupina vulgaris, Damasonium alisma, and Illecebrum verticillatum are reported

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 5.

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records and confirmations to the Italian administrative regions for taxa in the genera Allium, Arabis, Campanula, Centaurea, Chaerophyllum, Crocus, Dactylis, Dianthus, Festuca, Galanthus, Helianthemum, Lysimachia, Milium, Pteris, and Quercus. Nomenclature and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as supplementary material

New Alien Plant Taxa for Italy and Europe: An Update

Abstract: Despite the wide amount of scientific contributions published on alien plant species, their diffusion dynamics, and their interactions with native taxa, it is increasingly difficult to slow down their spreading and their negative impact on habitats. Last recent years, in fact, a sharp rise in the number of new alien plant taxa introduced in Italy and Europe has been recorded. The aim of this work is to investigate most of the Italian territory in order to verify whether this alarming trend is still underway. Specimen collections and/or observations of alien plants have been performed in as many as 12 Italian regions. All the collected specimens are stored in public or private herbaria. Taxa have been identified according to the literature from the countries of origin of the investigated taxa, while the nomenclature followed the current international references. Updates on 106 taxa are reported. In particular, among 117 new records, 89 are first records, 27 are changes to status and there is 1 extinction. Seven new taxa for Italian alien flora are reported, two of which are new to Europe. The administrative regions with the highest number of records are Calabria (48), Sardegna (17) and Sicilia (15). Five of the surveyed taxa, for the first time, have been considered invasive aliens to Italian territory. The unfrequent amount of original results provided by this work, over the simple importance of data itself, proves how floristic investigation, still today, represents one of the most effective tools in broadening the current knowledge about alien taxa and their dynamics

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 15

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and exclusions to the Italian administrative regions. New combinations in the genera Pilosella and Roemeria are proposed. Furthermore, the name Papaver siculum is lectotypified. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1