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Abstract
Taxonomy and distribution of Lupinus L. sect. Albus are discussed and updated with new data from Italy. The study of natural populations of Lupinus in the central Tyrrhenian Italy was based on the observations (in situ and ex situ) of the combination of the diagnostic characters (colour of corolla and seeds) mainly used by other authors, as well as the dehiscence of the pods, the dimension, shape and permeability of the seeds, according to the agronomic and genetic studies widely reported in the literature, to discriminate between the wild form (Lupinus albus subsp. graecus) and those escaped from cultivation (L. albus subsp. albus). Our results (1) led us to confirm the rank of subspecies to the wild form, L. albus L. subsp. graecus (Boiss. & Spruner) Franco & P. Silva, (2) confirm the presence of hybrids forms in Italy and (3) update the distribution area of subsp. graecus in Italy, including Apulia (Gargano).
L. albus subsp. graecus can be considered as a flag species of the interesting form of the edaphophilous “steppe”, rare in central Italy, confirming its value as an indicator of habitat “naturality”.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank E. Lattanzi for allowing access to her personal Herbarium and for useful discussion, D. Lafiandra and G. Filibeck (Tuscia University) for stimulating suggestions, the staff at the Botanical Gardens of Viterbo for their assistance during the ex situ cultivation phase, the staff at the Marturanum Park for their assistance during the in situ phase, C. Olmati for collaboration in the bibliographic research and R. Galesi of the Herbarium CAT.