A synopsis of the genus Cynoglossum (Boraginaceae-Cynoglosseae) in Italy

Abstract

Based on field and herbarium investigations, a systematic synthesis of the critical genus Cynoglossum (Boraginaceae) in Italy is provided. Types, diagnostic characters and original iconographies are given for each native species, together with a revised analytical key. Regional distributions are outlined and a list of selected vouchers is included. Nine species are native to the Italian territory: Cynoglossum barbaricinum, Cynoglossum cheirifolium, Cynoglossum clandestinum, C. columnae, C. creticum, C. magellense, C. montanum, C. nebrodense and C. officinale. A new subspecies, named C. nebrodense ssp. lucanum, is described from some calcareous massifs in S Basilicata and N Calabria. This taxon is morphologically and geographically distinct from the typical C. nebrodense s.str. In addition, C. dioscoridis and C. germanicum, often reported from Italy, cannot be confirmed and are apparently to be excluded from the Italian flora. Old herbarium records of C. amabile Stapf & Drummond and C. coelestinum Lindb. [≡ Paracaryopsis coelestina (Lindl.) R.R. Mill] from northeast Italy are reported for the first time, although the presence of these two exotic species in Italy was probably occasional.

Keywords:

• Boraginaceae
• Cynoglossum
• karyology
• Italian flora
• systematics
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

The first author is grateful to several colleagues that have provided material or various information, especially S. Brullo (Catania), L. Bernardo (Cosenza), F. Conti (Camerino), G. Domina (Palermo), H.H. Hilger (Berlin), J. Molina (Montpellier), F. Prosser (Trento), and A. Strid (Copenhagen). The curators of the herbaria cited in the Material and Methods section are gratefully acknowledged for allowing the examination of important collections, including type material (FI, GRE, NAP, P). Line-drawing iconographies of the species are published with the kind permission of P.V. Arrigoni, formerly at the Dept. of Plant Biology, University of Firenze. Finally, we thank C. Tani and A. Coppi for help with SEM and chromosome analyses, respectively.