ABSTRACT
The herbarium digitization process is an essential first step in transforming the vast amount of data associated with a physical specimen into flexible digital data formats. In this framework, the Herbarium of the University of Pisa (international code PI), at the end of 2018 started a process of digitization focusing on one of its most relevant collections: the Herbarium of Michele Guadagno (1878-1930). This scholar studied flora and vegetation of different areas of southern Italy, building a large herbarium including specimens collected by himself, plus many specimens obtained through exchanges with Italian and foreign botanists. The Herbarium is composed by 547 packages of vascular plants. Metadata were entered into the online database Virtual Herbaria JACQ and mirrored into a personalized virtual Herbarium of the Botanic Museum. After the completion of the digitization process, the number of sheets preserved in the Herbarium amounts to 44,345. Besides Guadagno, who collected 42% of his specimens, a further 1,102 collectors are represented. Most specimens were collected in Europe (91%), but all the continents are represented. As expected, Italy is the most represented country (59%), followed by France, Spain, Germany, and Greece. The specimens cover a time span of 99 years, from 1830 to 1929, whereas the specimens collected by Guadagno range between 1889 and 1928. Furthermore, we traced 134 herbarium sheets associated with documents, among which 75 drawings handmade by Guadagno, 34 letters from various corresponding authors, 16 copies of publications, and 14 copies of published iconographies.
ABSTRACT
By relating genetic divergence at neutral loci, phenotypic variation, and geographic and environmental distances, it is possible to dissect micro-evolutionary scenarios involving natural selection and neutral evolution. In this work, we tested the patterns of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic variation along an elevational gradient, using Dianthus virgineus as study system. We genotyped genome-wide SNPs through ddRAD sequencing and quantified phenotypic variation through multivariate morphological variation. We assessed patterns of variation by testing the statistical association between genetic, phenotypic, geographic, and elevational distances and explored the role of genetic drift and selection by comparing the Fst and Pst of morphometric traits. We revealed a weak genetic structure related to geographic distance among populations, but we excluded the predominant role of genetic drift acting on phenotypic traits. A high degree of phenotypic differentiation with respect to genetic divergence at neutral loci allowed us to hypothesize the effect of selection, putatively fuelled by changing conditions at different sites, on morphological traits. Thus, natural selection acting despite low genetic divergence at neutral loci can be hypothesized as a putative driver explaining the observed patterns of variation.
ABSTRACT
The genus Santolina (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) includes 26 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin. Santolina is widely used as ornamental plant, in xerigardening, and in ethnobotany. The Santolina chamaecyparissus complex, including about half of the known species diversity, has been properly investigated on systematic and taxonomic grounds only recently, and a complete morphometric study is still missing. Here we provide a morphometric characterization and comparison of all the 14 species of this complex, using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Our results suggest that species of this complex can be distinguished using combinations of quantitative and qualitative character-states, mostly related to the leaf morphology. The analysis of S. villosa, a tetraploid/hexaploid Spanish endemic, showed that the two cytotypes cannot be safely identified based on morphology. Coupling this evidence with available phylogenetic information, we conclude that there is no reason to split the two cytotypes of S. villosa in two distinct taxa. An identification key for all the species of the complex is presented.
ABSTRACT
Three subspecies of Armeria arenaria are reported from Italy, two of which are considered endemic to the Apennines. The taxonomic value of these two taxa (A. arenaria subsp. marginata and A. arenaria subsp. apennina) is unclear. Moreover, the relationships between A. arenaria subsp. praecox and Northern Italian populations-currently ascribed to A. arenaria subsp. arenaria-have never been addressed. Accordingly, we used an integrated taxonomic approach, including morphometry, seed morpho-colorimetry, karyology, molecular systematics (psbA-trnH, trnQ-rps16, trnF-trnL, trnL-rpl32, and ITS region), and comparative niche analysis. According to our results, French-Northern Italian populations are clearly distinct from Apennine populations. In the first group, there is evidence which allows the recognition of A. arenaria s.str. (not occurring in Italy) and A. arenaria subsp. praecox. In the second group, the two putative taxa endemic to the Northern Apennines cannot be separated, so a single subspecies is here recognized: A. arenaria subsp. marginata.
ABSTRACT
Santolina is a plant genus of dwarf aromatic shrubs that includes about 26 species native to the western Mediterranean Basin. In Corsica and Sardinia, two of the main islands of the Mediterranean, Santolina corsica (tetraploid) and S. insularis (hexaploid) are reported. Along with the cultivated pentaploid S. chamaecyparissus, these species form a group of taxa that is hard to distinguish only by morphology. Molecular (using ITS, trnH-psbA, trnL-trnF, trnQ-rps16, rps15-ycf1, psbM-trnD, and trnS-trnG), cypsela morpho-colorimetric, morphometric, and niche similarity analyses were conducted to investigate the diversity of plants belonging to this species group. Our results confute the current taxonomic hypothesis and suggest considering S. corsica and S. insularis as a single species. Moreover, molecular and morphometric results highlight the strong affinity between S. chamaecyparissus and the Santolina populations endemic to Corsica and Sardinia. Finally, the populations from south-western Sardinia, due to their high differentiation in the studied plastid markers and the different climatic niche with respect to all the other populations, could be considered as an evolutionary significant unit.
ABSTRACT
The nomenclature of 14 taxa from Central and Southern Europe within the Dianthusvirgineus group is discussed. Dianthusaggericola Jord., D.collivagus Jord., D.consimilis Jord., D.orophilus Jord., D.saxicola Jord., D.juratensis Jord. are here lectotypified by specimens from the Jordan herbarium in LY, while D.godronianus Jord. by a specimen in P. Dianthussubacaulis Vill. is neotypified by a specimen collected on Mont Ventoux (S. France) and housed in MPU. For D.sylvestris Wulfen, a lectotype is here designated and its previous neotypification is discussed. Dianthuscaryophyllusvar.tenuifolius Moris, D.caryophyllusf.minor Moris and D.sylvestrisvar.garganicus Ten. are lectotypified by specimens housed in herbarium Moris (TO) and herbarium Tenore (K). Dianthusvirgineusvar.tergestinus Rchb. is lectotypified by a drawing from the Icones florae Germanicae & Helveticae, while D.contractusvar.evolutus Lojac. is neotypified by a specimen in P. For each taxon the currently accepted name is provided including new synonymies. The type indication is followed by nomenclatural and taxonomic notes, in which the original material found is commented and the reasons for the identification of the types are discussed.
