54 urn:lsid:arphahub.com:pub:719A4407-6918-50E6-BCDF-A4165D76DC1E Italian Botanist IB 2531-4033 Pensoft Publishers 10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945 189945 Research Article Plantae Catalogues and Checklists Floristics & Distribution Europe A floristic survey of the Tifatini and Trebulani Mountains, southern Italy Stinca Adriano adriano.stinca@unicampania.it https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8275-0184 1 Banfi Enrico 2 Bartolucci Fabrizio https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8199-6003 3 Bonari Gianmaria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5574-6067 4 5 Cancellieri Laura https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0102-259X 6 Caruso Giuseppe https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4370-0375 7 Cennamo Gennaro Domenico 8 Conti Fabio https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7391-6691 9 D'Auria Giuseppe 10 Di Pietro Romeo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4983-8931 11 Fascetti Simonetta https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6870-0108 12 Fortini Paola https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4481-2126 13 Galasso Gabriele https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2501-456X 2 Iberite Mauro https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2771-2935 14 Lattanzi Edda 15 Lucchese Fernando 16 Montepaone Giulia 17 Musarella Carmelo Maria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-190X 18 Pennesi Riccardo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-5581 19 Perrino Enrico Vito https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0555-4139 20 Ravo Maria 21 Romano Vito Antonio 22 Roma-Marzio Francesco https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2184-0311 23 Rosati Leonardo 12 Salerno Giovanni 24 Santangelo Annalisa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5560-1725 25 Scoppola Anna https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-5608 6 Soldano Adriano 26 Sperandii Marta Gaia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2507-5928 27 Tilia Agnese 14 Esposito Assunta https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-7373 1 Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via A. Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Caserta Italy https://ror.org/02kqnpp86 Botany Section, Natural History Museum of Milan, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milan, Italy Botany Section, Natural History Museum of Milan Milan Italy https://ror.org/05cr76371 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy https://ror.org/02be6w209 Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena Siena Italy https://ror.org/01tevnk56 NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center Palermo Italy Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Tuscia Viterbo Italy https://ror.org/03svwq685 Higher Education Institute “V. Emanuele II”, Via Cortese 1, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy Higher Education Institute “V. Emanuele II” Catanzaro Italy UOS Crop Protection - Regional Phytosanitary Service - Food Safety, Regione Campania, Via Don Bosco 9/E, 80141 Naples, Italy UOS Crop Protection - Regional Phytosanitary Service - Food Safety Naples Italy Floristic Research Center of the Apennine, University of Camerino, Gran Sasso Laga National Park, Via Provinciale km 4.2 - San Colombo, 67021 Barisciano (L’Aquila), Italy Floristic Research Center of the Apennine, University of Camerino, Gran Sasso Laga National Park Barisciano Italy https://ror.org/0005w8d69 Regional Phytosanitary Service, Decentralized Agriculture Area of Latina, Regione Lazio, Piazza del Popolo 5, 04100 Latina, Italy Regional Phytosanitary Service, Decentralized Agriculture Area of Latina Latina Italy Department of Planning, Design, and Architectural Technology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Flaminia 70, 00196 Rome, Italy Department of Planning, Design, and Architectural Technology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy https://ror.org/02be6w209 Department of Health Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy Department of Health Sciences, University of Basilicata Potenza Italy https://ror.org/03tc05689 Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche (Isernia), Italy Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise Pesche Italy https://ror.org/04z08z627 Herbarium Museum, Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy Herbarium Museum, Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome Italy https://ror.org/02be6w209 00143 Rome, Italy Unaffiliated 00143 Rome Italy Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Roma, Italy Department of Science, Roma Tre University Roma Italy https://ror.org/05vf0dg29 88100 Catanzaro, Italy Unaffiliated Catanzaro Italy Department of Agriculture, “Mediterranean” University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito s.n.c., 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy Department of Agriculture, “Mediterranean” University of Reggio Calabria Reggio Calabria Italy https://ror.org/041sz8d87 Herbarium Universitatis Camerinensis, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Pontoni 5, 62032 Camerino (Macerata), Italy Herbarium Universitatis Camerinensis, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino Camerino Italy https://ror.org/0005w8d69 Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71100 Foggia, Italy Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering, University of Foggia Foggia Italy https://ror.org/01xtv3204 Genomix4Life s.r.l., Via S. Allende 43L, 84081 Baronissi (Salerno), Italy Genomix4Life s.r.l. Baronissi Italy 85100 Potenza, Italy Unaffiliated Potenza Italy Botanical Garden and Museum, University Museum System, University of Pisa, Via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy Botanical Garden and Museum, University Museum System, University of Pisa Pisa Italy https://ror.org/03ad39j10 84049 Castel San Lorenzo (Salerno), Italy Unaffiliated Castel San Lorenzo Italy Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, c/o Orto Botanico, Via Foria 223, 80139 Naples, Italy Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II Naples Italy https://ror.org/05290cv24 13100 Vercelli, Italy Unaffiliated Vercelli Italy 00185 Rome, Italy Unaffiliated 00185 Rome Italy

Corresponding author: Adriano Stinca (adriano.stinca@unicampania.it)

Academic editor: Name

 2026 29 07 2026 22 17 49 675558C2-273E-5C26-BFF1-7B7D08F45BFA 21716100 26 02 2026 19 07 2026 Adriano Stinca, Enrico Banfi, Fabrizio Bartolucci, Gianmaria Bonari, Laura Cancellieri, Giuseppe Caruso, Gennaro Domenico Cennamo, Fabio Conti, Giuseppe D'Auria, Romeo Di Pietro, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Gabriele Galasso, Mauro Iberite, Edda Lattanzi, Fernando Lucchese, Giulia Montepaone, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Riccardo Pennesi, Enrico Vito Perrino, Maria Ravo, Vito Antonio Romano, Francesco Roma-Marzio, Leonardo Rosati, Giovanni Salerno, Annalisa Santangelo, Anna Scoppola, Adriano Soldano, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Agnese Tilia, Assunta Esposito This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Within the framework of ongoing updates to the Italian flora, this paper presents the results of floristic research conducted on the Tifatini and Trebulani Mountains, two limestone hilly-mountain systems in southern Italy. The vascular flora of the study area is largely unknown, with most of the available data dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries. Data were collected through field surveys carried out between 2015 and 2023, primarily during the scientific excursion of the Working Group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution of the Italian Botanical Society held in 2017. An opportunistic approach was adopted for floristic sampling; it was performed on 22 sites considered to be representative of the local environmental diversity in terms of physiography, climate, soil, elevation, and land use. The research led to taxonomic identification of 3,987 herbarium specimens, 2,623 of which were collected on the Tifatini Mountains and 1,364 on the Trebulani Mountains. Overall, 706 species and subspecies (including five hybrids) belonging to 121 families were identified. The total floristic list included 18 endemic species to Italy, 42 alien species, three cryptogenic species for the administrative region of Campania, and 47 species included in the IUCN Red List of the Italian flora. In the Tifatini area 591, species have been identified (nine endemics, 40 aliens, three cryptogenics, and 33 included in the IUCN Red List), whereas 369 species have been recorded in the Trebulani area (14 endemics, eight aliens, no cryptogenics, and 33 from the IUCN Red List). Six new species have been detected for the first time and five confirmed for the flora of Campania. The data collected during this survey underscores the importance of a collaborative approach among botanists for assessing the conservation status of the flora of the investigated territories, while also highlighting the occurrence of taxonomically critical groups requiring further investigation.

 Alien plants Campania region endemic taxa floristic updates herbarium specimens Italian vascular flora local floras native plants new floristic records Introduction

Italy’s remarkable plant diversity results from its physiographic, microclimatic, geological, and pedological heterogeneity, together with the wide range of human activities that have shaped the landscape since prehistoric times. In fact, after Turkey, Italy is the country with the second-highest native plant diversity in the Mediterranean Basin (Stinca et al. 2021; Bartolucci et al. 2023). According to the most recent national synthesis, the native vascular flora of Italy, including the enclaves of the Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City State, comprises 8,241 species and subspecies belonging to 1,111 genera and 153 families (Bartolucci et al. 2024). To these, data on alien vascular plants should be added, amounting to 1,782 taxa (1,673 species, 28 subspecies, 69 hybrids, and 12 cultivars not attributable to a specific binomial) distributed in 786 genera and 159 families (Galasso et al. 2024). Although there has been steady progress in floristic knowledge at national and regional levels (Domina et al. 2025; Stinca 2025), considerable gaps remain at the subregional scale (Domina et al. 2026). This is somewhat surprising considering that local floristic studies provide essential data for assessing current levels of diversity (e.g., Sciandrello et al. 2020), analyzing changes in floristic composition over time (e.g., Erschbamer et al. 2011), and evaluating changes following natural (e.g., Bonanomi et al. 2018) or anthropogenic (e.g., Stinca et al. 2020) disturbances. Furthermore, floristic research can identify rare species worthy of protection (e.g., Souza et al. 2023) and alien species harmful to native biocenoses (e.g., Khorasani et al. 2025). Finally, floristic studies provide insights that support broader taxonomic investigations and may lead to the discovery of taxa new to science (e.g., Rosati et al. 2018). Moreover, these data are essential for policymakers to develop effective land-use planning strategies that not only promote the economic and social development of local communities but also ensure the conservation of natural resources.

With the aim of improving floristic knowledge of poorly investigated areas of the Italian territory, the Working Group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution (WGFSE) of the Italian Botanical Society has been conducting annual botanical explorations since 2003 using a collaborative approach. These efforts have made a significant contribution to the knowledge of the flora in several areas of northern (e.g., Po valley [Bouvet et al. 2018]), central (e.g., Velino and Aterno valleys [Bartolucci et al. 2019], Sillaro, Santerno and Senio valleys [Roma-Marzio et al. 2020], Mt. Pennino [Tardella et al. 2024]), and southern Italy (e.g., southern Daunia Mountains [Wagensommer et al. 2014], Sicani Mountains [Domina et al. 2015], Aeolian Islands [Barone et al. 2023]). Regarding floristic explorations focused on southern Italy, three were carried out entirely or partially in Campania, namely on the Matese Mountains (Santangelo et al. 2010), Maddalena Mountains (Rosati et al. 2017), and the eastern Irpinia and Vulture-Melfese area (Stinca et al. 2019a).

In this paper, we present the results of floristic research performed on the Tifatini and Trebulani Mountains (Campania, southern Italy). The data shown here are derived from field sampling carried out during the official floristic excursion of the WGFSE held in 2017 (organized by A. Stinca, A. Esposito, L. Rosati, G. Salerno and S. Fascetti), as well as from numerous other explorations performed by one of the organizers (A. Stinca) before and after the 2017 excursion. The specific aim of this research is to contribute to the knowledge of the vascular flora of both geomorphological complexes, which fall within an area where only generic floristic information is available (Domina et al. 2026). We emphasize that updating knowledge on vascular plant distribution is an important research topic, particularly in the Mediterranean region, recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al. 2000).

 Materials and methods Study area

The investigated areas included one of ca. 80 km2 in the Tifatini mountains (also known as Colli Tifatini, hereafter referred to as Tifatini) and one of ca. 180 km2 in the Trebulani Mountains (also known as Colli Coprensi, hereafter Trebulani), both forming part of the Campanian Anti-Apennines. These hilly-mountain systems lie within the Mediterranean biogeographic region (EEA 2026a) and occur in the north of Campania, along the northeastern margin of the Quaternary graben known as the Campania Plain (Fig. 1A).

10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945.figure1 21716286 AFA6259D-8724-53AC-AD35-CAFB60D6C62E

A. Location of the study area in Italy and within the administrative region of Campania; B. Location of the selected sampling sites in the Tifatini; C. Location of the selected sampling sites in the Trebulani. The basemaps are the Digital Elevation Model with a resolution of 30 m and Carto Light (from https://it-it.topographic-map.com/world/) (for details see Table 1, Suppl. material 1: figs S1, S2).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1730118

Mt. Virgo (620 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Tifata (603 m a.s.l.) are the highest peaks of the Tifatini, while Mt. Maggiore with Pizzo San Salvatore (1037 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Friento (770 m a.s.l.) represent the highest elevations within the Trebulani. Both geomorphological complexes consist of carbonate units formed mainly by Cretaceous limestones (Carannante et al. 2010) and are separated by the Volturno River. Characteristic geomorphological features of the Tifatini are collapse sinkholes, locally called “Comole” (i.e., natural depressions or chasms, approximately circular in shape, caused by the frequently sudden collapse of the soil and underlying rocks due to karstification). Among these, the so-called “Comola grande” located in the municipality of Castel Morrone, is considered one of the largest in Italy (Del Prete et al. 2004; Cozzolino et al. 2010).

According to the bioclimatic map of Europe (Rivas-Martínez et al. 2004), the study area exhibits a temperate oceanic sub-Mediterranean bioclimate. Analysis of the climate diagram following Walter and Lieth (1960–1967), based on data for the period 2001–2020 from the meteorological station of Alife (province of Caserta, 41.341880°N, 14.318330°E, 163 m a.s.l., Centro Agrometeorologico Regionale, Regione Campania, https://agricoltura.regione.campania.it/meteo/agrometeo.htm, Fig. 2), indicates a Mediterranean-type climate in the study area. Mean annual rainfall is 1,038 mm concentrated in the autumn-winter period with a maximum in November and a minimum in August. The annual average temperature is 15.6 °C, with the hottest months in summer (July and August) and the coldest in winter (January and December). Therefore, the thermo-pluviometric diagram highlights a two-month summer drought period.

10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945.figure2 21716292 494A8783-4442-53F3-8A07-4160F770E52A

Walter-Lieth climate diagram of the Alife meteorological station, representative of the Tifatini and Trebulani. Blue, black, red and yellow curves refer to average monthly rainfall (mm), average monthly temperature (°C), average monthly maximum temperature (°C) and average monthly minimum temperature (°C), respectively.

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1730119

In accordance with the Soil Survey Staff (2022) classification, the soils of the study area belong to two orders, namely Andisols and Inceptisols. The Andisols (derived from pyroclastic deposits linked to the volcanic activity of the Phlegraean Fields and Vesuvius) are clearly predominant, covering both the two mountain ranges and the surrounding flat areas. The Andisols of the reliefs are mostly shallow and rich in skeleton and can be assigned to the land system of “Apennine limestone reliefs with pyroclastic cover” (Di Gennaro 2002). In contrast, the soils of the surrounding areas are very deep and have a medium or fine texture and can be assigned to the land system of “piedmont plain of limestone reliefs” (Di Gennaro 2002). Inceptisols are found only along the Volturno River. They are very deep and have a medium-to-fine texture and can be assigned to the land system of “relatively elevated areas of the alluvial plains in the upper and middle reaches of the Volturno and Apennine rivers” (Di Gennaro 2002).

In terms of vegetation, the study area falls entirely within vegetation series whose late-successional stages are represented by forest communities (Filesi et al. 2010). These include holm oak forests of Cyclamino hederifolii-Quercetum ilicis Biondi et al., 2003, the thermophilous downy oak forests of Pistacio terebinthi-Quercetum pubescentis (Blasi & Di Pietro, 1998) Allegrezza et al. 2003 and the hop-hornbeam submontane mixed forests of Melittio-Ostryetum carpinifoliae Avena et al., 1980. The main secondary communities associated with deforestation or traditional land-use practices are mainly characterized by grasslands: semi-mesophilous communities dominated by Brachypodium rupestre (Host) Roem. & Schult. referable to the Polygalo mediterraneae-Bromion erecti (Biondi et al., 2005) Di Pietro in Di Pietro et al. 2015 (developed on relatively deep soils with a clayey component), and discontinuous dry grasslands with Bromopsis erecta (Huds.) Fourr. and Koeleria splendens C.Presl of the Phleo ambigui-Bromenion erecti Biondi et al. ex Di Pietro 2011 (on the rocky slopes). At lower elevations, a vegetation mosaic develops composed of scrub communities referable to Oleo-Ceratonion siliquae Br.-Bl. ex Guinochet et Drouineau 1944, associated with steppe-like grasslands alternatively dominated by Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T.Durand & Schinz or Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (class Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1978) intermixed with several therophytic communities of Stipo capensis-Brachypodietea distachyi Brullo ex B. de Foucault 2001 nom. mut. The latter class replaces the well-known Tuberarietea guttatae Rivas Goday et Rivas-Mart. 1963 on neutral-alkaline substrates as reported in the EuroVegChecklist (Mucina et al. 2016) whose nomenclature was updated by Terzi et al. (2026). In areas of low elevation where human activity is more prevalent, partially synanthropic communities of Securigero securidacae-Dasypyrion villosi Cano-Ortiz, Biondi et Cano in Cano-Ortiz et al. ex Di Pietro in Di Pietro et al. 2015 can be found (Biondi et al. 2014; Di Pietro et al. 2015).

The Tifatini include three Special Areas of Conservation (SACs, Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC): “Monte Tifata” (SAC code IT8010016, 14.2 km2), “Bosco di S. Silvestro” (SAC code IT8010004, 0.81 km2), and “Fiumi Volturno e Calore Beneventano” (SAC code IT8010027, 49.24 km2). The Trebulani include the Special Area of Conservation “Catena di Monte Maggiore” (SAC code IT8010006, 51.84 km2) (DM 21 May 2019, Gazzetta Ufficiale Serie Generale n. 129 of 4 June 2019).

The vascular flora of the Tifatini and Trebulani is still poorly known, as most available information dates back to the 19th century (Tenore 1811–1838, 1831; Terracciano 1867, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1890) and early 20th century (Grande 1914). In relatively recent times, Montelucci (1963) reported some species only for the Tifatini. Furthermore, very few records are reported in the standard floras (Fiori 1923, 1924, 1925; Pignatti 1982), and all of them are based on previous floristic studies. Some more recent floristic contributions, focused only on single taxonomic groups (Bigazzi and Raffaelli 2000; Del Guacchio 2010; Stinca 2019; Croce et al. 2021) and plant communities (Perrino et al. 2022; Croce 2025), or based solely on historical herbarium data (Moraldo 1986), have not significantly improved the floristic knowledge of this territory.

 Data sources

Since the aim of this study was to compile as complete a floristic list as possible for the study area, we adopted an opportunistic approach based on the so-called botanist’s “algorithm” (Palmer et al. 2002). Accordingly, 22 sampling sites (11 on the Tifatini, covering 6.91 km2, and 11 on the Trebulani, covering 7.56 km2) were pre-selected by the organizers as representative of local environmental diversity in terms of physiography, climate, soil, elevation, and land use (Fig. 1B, C; Table 1, Suppl. material 1: figs S1, S2).

List of the sampling sites and relative details.

Site n. Hilly-mountain system Locality (Municipality) Main environments Minimum and maximum elevation (m a.s.l.) Area (km2) Geographic coordinates (decimal degrees WGS84) Cell ID in the EEA reference grid 1 Main sampling dates 2 Additional sampling dates 3
1 Tifatini Mt. Virgo (Castel Morrone) Pastures, rocky slopes, shrublands, broadleaf forests, coniferous reforestations, ruderal environments 370–620 2.02 41.104882°N, 14.378801°E 10kmE468N201 10kmE469N201 3 May 2017 19 February 2017; 23 April 2017; 10 April 2018
2 Tifatini Mt. San Leucio(Caserta) Pastures, rocky slopes, shrublands, broadleaf forests, ruderal environments 160–462 1.91 41.106607°N, 14.318964°E 10kmE468N201 3 May 2017 31 October 2016; 21 February 2017
3-A Tifatini Mt. Marmolelle [from Masseria Troia to Mt. Marmolelle] (Caserta) Pastures, rocky slopes, cliffs, shrublands, broadleaf forests, ruderal environments 150–411 0.34 41.105800°N, 14.294081°E 10kmE468N201 4 May 2017 12 March 2017; 30 December 2023
3-B Tifatini Mt. Tifata Cresta [ridge from Mt. Marmolelle to Mt. Tifata] (San Prisco) Pastures, rocky slopes, cliffs, shrublands, broadleaf forests 411–603 0.48 41.114872°N, 14.279727°E 10kmE468N201 4 May 2017 12 March 2017; 30 December 2023
3-C Tifatini Mt. Tifata SW slopes [from Mt. Tifata to Basilica di Sant’Angelo in Formis] (Capua) Pastures, rocky slopes, cliffs, shrublands, ruderal environments 90–435 0.30 41.115460°N, 14.267285°E 10kmE468N201 4 May 2017 12 March 2017
4 Tifatini Comola grande (Castel Morrone) Limestone cliffs, broadleaf forests, cultivated fields, ruderal environments 150–220 0.08 41.117492°N, 14.339732°E 10kmE468N201 4 May 2017 26 February 2017
5 Tifatini Castello (Castel Morrone) Pastures, rocky slopes, coniferous reforestation, ruderal environments 440–492 0.60 41.126164°N, 14.361577°E 10kmE468N201 4 May 2017 26 February 2017
6 Tifatini Vallone Ciummiento (Castel Morrone) Riparian environments, broadleaf forests, cultivated fields, ruderal environments 115–180 0.12 41.120729°N, 14.387538°E 10kmE469N201 4 May 2017 26 February 2017
7-A Trebulani Mt. Maggiore S slopes [from Croce to San Salvatore] (Rocchetta e Croce) Broadleaf forests, cliffs, ruderal environments 570–857 0.13 41.231570°N, 14.191629°E 10kmE467N202 5 May 2017 30 March 2017; 1 May 2018
7-B Trebulani Pizzo San Salvatore [from San Salvatore to Pizzo San Salvatore] (Pietramelara) Broadleaf forests, rocky slopes, cliffs 858–1037 0.11 41.237100°N, 14.196752°E 10kmE467N202 5 May 2017 30 March 2017
7-C Trebulani Madonna di Fradeianne [from the detour to Pizzo San Salvatore to Madonna di Fradeianne] (Pietramelara) Broadleaf forests, cliffs 890–925 0.11 41.238203°N, 14.187013°E 10kmE467N202 5 May 2017 30 March 2017; 1 May 2018
7-D Trebulani Mt. Maggiore SW slopes [between Madonna di Fradeianne and Croce] (Rocchetta e Croce) Broadleaf forests, rocky slopes, shrublands, ruderal environments 570–924 0.14 41.233018°N, 14.184930°E 10kmE467N202 5 May 2017 30 March 2017; 1 May 2018
8 Tifatini River Volturno in locality Salicelle (Capua) Riparian environments, slowly flowing freshwater, arable land 27–30 0.65 41.136400°N, 14.298567°E 10kmE468N201 5 May 2017 26 March 2017
9 Tifatini Casino Leonetti (Caserta) Pastures, shrublands, ruderal environments 315–374 0.21 41.106281°N, 14.337296°E 10kmE468N201 25 November 2015; 2, 15 April 2016; 5, 30 May 2016; 1, 15 June 2016; 1, 25 August 2016; 31 October 2016; 10 April 2018; 20 October 2018; 18 May 2021
10 Trebulani Mt. Caruso (Castel di Sasso) Pastures, rocky slopes 500–592 0.64 41.182297°N, 14.307855°E 10kmE468N201 6 May 2017 26 March 2017
11 Trebulani Mt. Santa Croce (Piana di Monte Verna) Pastures, rocky slopes, broadleaf forests 500–580 1.21 41.183187°N, 14.327256°E 10kmE468N202 10kmE468N201 6 May 2017
12 Trebulani Mt. Friento (Castel di Sasso) Broadleaf forests, coniferous reforestations, pastures, rocky slopes 470–770 3.54 41.212406°N, 14.267839°E 10kmE467N202 10kmE468N202 6 May 2017 26 March 2017
13 Tifatini Caserta Vecchia (Caserta) Anthropic and ruderal environments 350–414 0.20 41.096720°N, 14.368673°E 10kmE468N201 21 May 2017
14 Trebulani Buonomini (Castel di Sasso) Cultivated fields, roadsides 323 0.07 41.197342°N, 14.308149°E 10kmE468N202 6 May 2017
15 Trebulani Mt. Niuza (Liberi) Broadleaf forests, roadsides 465 0.11 41.216412°N, 14.294838°E 10kmE468N202 6 May 2017
16 Trebulani Formicola in the center (Formicola) Anthropic and ruderal environments 197 0.40 41.209767°N, 14.231917°E 10kmE467N202 5 May 2017
17 Trebulani Pizzo Madama Marta (Roccaromana) Broadleaf forests, rocky slopes, cliffs 630–956 1.10 41.246211°N, 14.219639°E 10kmE467N202 16 March 2017

1EEA (2026b). 2 carried out during the official floristic excursion of the WGFSE. 3 performed by one of the organizers (A. Stinca).

The sites were intensively surveyed between 3 and 6 May 2017 by a team of 31 botanists. Each participant collected plant specimens independently, aiming to obtain at least one specimen of every taxonomically identifiable species occurring within each studied hilly-mountain system (i.e., Tifatini and Trebulani). Further surveys were conducted by one of the organizers (A. Stinca) on earlier and later dates (Table 1). Site n. 9 was sampled most frequently because it was also surveyed for vegetation studies (Perrino et al. 2022).

To draw up the floristic list, we followed the same workflow used in previous floristic studies (e.g., Stinca et al. 2019a) (Fig. 3). After collection and drying of the plant samples, taxonomic identification was initially carried out by the individual researchers using standard floras (e.g., Tutin et al. 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1993; Pignatti 1982; Pignatti et al. 2017a, 2017b, 2018, 2019) and other taxonomic references (e.g., Bigazzi and Raffaelli 2000; Kirschner 2002; Brullo et al. 2009; Conti et al. 2021; Rico 2021; Jiménez-López et al. 2022). Each participant then compiled his/her own floristic list (i.e., partial floristic list) and shared it with the organizers (following a pre-established format). The merging of all partial floristic lists produced the provisional total floristic list of the study area, comprising 4,123 herbarium specimens. A critical analysis of this latter list highlighted the presence of 1,705 specimens whose identification was uncertain or required verification (i.e., critical specimens). The review of these herbarium specimens was performed during a dedicated workshop held in Caserta (at the Consorzio di Tutela Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP) on 22–24 March 2018 (Fig. 4). Some specimens (103) belonging to well-known critical groups of the Italian flora, for which doubts remained regarding their identification, were sent to specialists for critical revision: Asplenium, Polypodium (D. Marchetti, Massa), Myosotis (L. Cecchi, Florence), Orobanche, Phelipanche (G. Domina, Palermo), and Ornithogalum (L. Peruzzi, Pisa). All identified herbarium specimens were deposited in public and private herbaria (Table 2).

10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945.figure3 21716294 2EBA0E64-33DF-5B44-A001-ECD812BE911D

Workflow for floristic data collection and processing.

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1730120 10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945.figure4 21716302 3BA6AA6B-D427-57B8-8672-4F9CBAC282FB

Programme of the workshop held in 2018 in Caserta for the revision of critical specimens collected in the study area.

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1730121

Public and private herbaria in which the collected exsiccata are deposited. The acronyms of public herbaria follow Thiers (2026).

Herbarium code Herbarium name Type Institution Location
APP Herbarium Apenninicum Public Floristic Research Center of the Apennine Via Provinciale km 4.2, 67021 Barisciano (L’Aquila), Italy
HCA Herbarium Capitanatae Public University of Foggia Via Napoli 25, 71100 Foggia, Italy
HFLA Herbarium Flaminio Public Sapienza University of Rome Via E. Gianturco 2, 00196 Rome, Italy
HLUC Herbarium Lucanum Public University of Basilicata Via Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
IS Herbarium Universitatis Aeserniae Public University of Molise Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche (Isernia), Italy
IT Herbarium Austroitalicum Public University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Via A. Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
MSNM Herbarium Musaei Civici Historia Naturalis Mediolanensis Public Natural History Museum of Milan Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milan, Italy
NAP Herbarium Neapolitanum Public University of Naples Federico II Via Foria 223 80139 Naples, Italy
PI Herbarium Horti Botanici Pisani Public University of Pisa Via L. Ghini 13, 56126 Pisa, Italy
REGGIO Erbario Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria Public “Mediterranean” University of Reggio Calabria Via Melissari, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
RO Herbarium Horti Romani Public Sapienza University of Rome Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italia
RO-HLat Herbarium Horti Romani - Herbarium Edda Lattanzi Public Sapienza University of Rome Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italia
SIENA Herbarium Universitatis Senensis Public University of Siena Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
URT Erbario Università Roma Tre Public Roma Tre University Viale G. Marconi 44, 00146 Rome, Italy
UTV Erbario Università della Tuscia Public University of Tuscia Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Herb. Cancellieri Herbarium Laura Cancellieri Private Rome, Italy
Herb. Caruso Herbarium Giuseppe Caruso Private Catanzaro, Italy
Herb. Salerno Herbarium Giovanni Salerno Private Castel San Lorenzo (Salerno), Italy
Herb. Soldano Herbarium Adriano Soldano Private Vercelli, Italy
Herb. Sperandii Herbarium Marta Gaia Sperandii Private Rome, Italy

In the final floristic list (Suppl. material 1: table SS1), all taxa (i.e., families, genera, species and subspecies) are arranged alphabetically. Taxon nomenclature and circumscription follow the Italian checklists of the native (Bartolucci et al. 2024) and alien vascular flora (Galasso et al. 2024). The nomenclature of formally described native hybrids not included in the aforementioned papers follows Kretzschmar et al. (2007) for Anacamptis × gennarii (Rchb.) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr., and POWO (2026a) for Orchis × bivonae Tod. Any synonyms, mainly derived from Bartolucci et al. (2024) and Galasso et al. (2024), are also reported for taxa that have undergone recent nomenclatural changes, as clarification of synonymy remains useful. Synonyms are preceded by the following symbols: ≡ for homotypic synonyms (nomenclatural synonyms); = for heterotypic synonyms (taxonomic synonyms); – for misapplied names. For each species recorded during our field surveys, the sampling site(s) (Table 1) and the herbarium code(s) of the voucher specimen(s) (Table 2) are provided (herbarium acronyms follow Thiers 2026). In addition, the following information may be provided:

+ CAM** = species recorded for the first time in Campania;

+ CAM* = species confirmed for the flora of Campania;

E = Italian endemic species (Peruzzi et al. 2014, 2015; Bartolucci et al. 2024);

C = cryptogenic species in Campania (Bartolucci et al. 2024);

A = alien species with indication of its status in the study area (i.e., CAS = casual, NAT = naturalized; INV = invasive), and period of introduction in Italy (i.e., ARC = archaeophyte, NEO = neophyte) (definitions follow Galasso et al. 2024, which in turn was based on Pyšek et al. 2004).

The floristic lists derived from our surveys in the Tifatini and Trebulani were compared to lists of total, endemic, alien, cryptogenic, and conservation-interest species. In addition, the biogeographical relevance of the study areas was assessed by comparing their flora with that of Campania (Bartolucci et al. 2024; Galasso et al. 2024), focusing only on species currently recorded as present in the region.

 Results

This research allowed the taxonomic identification of 3,987 herbarium specimens (about 96% of those collected; the remaining specimens were incomplete and unidentifiable), of which 2,623 were collected on the Tifatini and 1,364 on the Trebulani. More than 25% of the identified samples are deposited in the Herbarium Austroitalicum (IT, 1,033 exsiccata), followed by Herbarium Horti Romani (RO, including RO-HLat., 518) and Herbarium Apenninicum (APP, 413). In addition, one species was documented only by digital photographs (i.e., Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.). Overall, 706 species (including five hybrid taxa) were identified, belonging to 121 families (Suppl. material 1: table SS1). The hybrids recorded in the study are Acer campestre L. × A. opalus Mill. subsp. obtusatum (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Gams, Anacamptis × gennarii (Rchb.) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & H.Dietr., Brachypodium retusum (Pers.) P.Beauv. × B. rupestre (Host) Roem. & Schult., Orchis × bivonae Tod. [Suppl. material 1: table SS1], and Vitis × koberi Ardenghi, Galasso, Banfi & Lastrucci. In addition, four putative hybrids within the Quercus pubescens complex were detected. The recorded total flora includes 14 ferns and fern allies, one gymnosperm (i.e., Cupressus sempervirens L.), and 691 angiosperms.

A total of 591 species were identified in the Tifatini, whereas 369 were recorded in the Trebulani. In the study areas, 18 species (2.5% of the total recorded flora) were found to be endemic to Italy: the Tifatini host nine of these species (1.5% of their flora), while the Trebulani have 14 (3.8% of their flora) (Table 3).

List of Italian endemics recorded on the Tifatini and Trebulani.

Taxon Tifatini Trebulani
Acer cappadocicum Gled. subsp. lobelii (Ten.) A.E.Murray +
Alnus cordata (Loisel.) Duby +
Arabis collina Ten. subsp. rosea (DC.) Minuto +
Carduus nutans L. subsp. perspinosus (Fiori) Arènes +
Cerastium lacaitae Barberis, Bechi & Miceli +
Cerastium tomentosum L. +
Crocus biflorus Mill. +
Cymbalaria glutinosa Bigazzi & Raffaelli subsp. brevicalcarata Bigazzi & Raffaelli (Suppl. material 1: fig. S3) + +
Globularia cordifolia L. subsp. neapolitana (O.Schwarz) Milletti ex Del Guacchio, Innangi & P.Caputo +
Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. + +
Micromeria graeca (L.) Benth. ex Rchb. subsp. tenuifolia (Ten.) Nyman +
Ophrys holosericea (Burm.f.) Greuter subsp. appennina (Romolini & Soca) Kreutz + +
Ophrys sphegodes Mill. subsp. classica (Devillers-Tersch. & Devillers) Kreutz + +
Ornithogalum exscapum Ten. + +
Polygala flavescens DC. subsp. flavescens +
Rhinanthus wettsteinii (Sterneck) Soó +
Siler montanum Crantz subsp. stabianum (Lacaita) F.Conti & Bartolucci +
Viola cassinensis Strobl subsp. pseudogracilis (A.Terracc.) Bartolucci, Galasso & Wagens. (Suppl. material 1: fig. S3) +

The study allowed us to ascertain the presence of 47 species (6.6% of the total flora detected) evaluated according to IUCN criteria (Rossi et al. 2013, 2020; Orsenigo et al. 2018, 2021): 33 were found on the Tifatini (5.6% of their flora) and as many on the Trebulani (8.9% of their flora).

Three species (0.4% of the total recorded flora), all found on the Tifatini, are considered cryptogenic in the Campania region: Gladiolus byzantinus Mill., Oxalis corniculata L., Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv. subsp. viridis (L.) Thell.

Six species (0.7% of the total recorded flora), five of which recorded only on the Tifatini, were found to be new floristic records for Campania (Table 4).

List of species recorded for the first time in Campania.

Taxon Tifatini Trebulani
Lysimachia loeflingii F.J.Jiménez-López & M.Talavera +
Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth +
Phelipanche schultzii (Mutel) Pomel +
Poa angustifolia L. +
Ulmus minor Mill. subsp. canescens Bartolucci & Galasso + +
Valerianella pumila (L.) DC. +

This research also allowed us to confirm five taxa for the flora of Campania (Table 5).

List of species confirmed for Campania.

Taxon Tifatini Trebulani
Allium guttatum Steven subsp. sardoum (Moris) Stearn +
Carex praecox Schreb. + +
Helianthemum nummularium (L.) Mill. subsp. nummularium + +
Lathyrus inconspicuus L. +
Luzula sylvatica (Huds.) Gaudin subsp. sieberi (Tausch) K.Richt. +

With regard to the non-native flora, a total of 42 species were documented (5.9% of the total recorded flora): 40 on the Tifatini (6.8% of their flora) and only 8 on the Trebulani (2.2% of their flora) (Table 6). Among these, only Ailanthus altissima and Broussonetia papyrifera are included in the “List of invasive alien species of Union concern” established under Regulation (EU) n. 1143/2014 and subsequent amendments (EC 2026).

List of alien species recorded on the Tifatini and Trebulani with indication of their status in in each area.

Taxon Tifatini Trebulani
Acacia dealbata Link subsp. dealbata A CAS (NEO)
Actinidia deliciosa (A.Chev.) C.F.Liang & A.R.Ferguson A CAS (NEO)
Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle A INV (NEO)
Amorpha fruticosa L. A NAT (NEO)
Antirrhinum tortuosum Bosc ex Lam. A NAT (NEO)
Aristolochia sempervirens L. A NAT (NEO)
Avena sativa L. subsp. sativa A CAS (ARC)
Avena sterilis L. A NAT (ARC) A NAT (ARC)
Bidens subalternans DC. A INV (NEO)
Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent. A NAT (NEO)
Cestrum parqui L’Hér. A NAT (NEO)
Chamaerops humilis L. subsp. humilis A CAS
Crepis sancta (L.) Bornm. subsp. nemausensis (P.Fourn.) Babc. A INV (NEO)
Cupressus sempervirens L. A NAT (ARC)
Erigeron bonariensis L. A INV (NEO)
Erigeron canadensis L. A INV (NEO)
Euphorbia prostrata Aiton A INV (NEO)
Galega officinalis L. A NAT (ARC)
Hyacinthus orientalis L. A CAS (ARC)
Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth A NAT (NEO)
Iris germanica L. A NAT (ARC) A NAT (ARC)
Ligustrum lucidum W.T.Aiton A NAT (NEO)
Lolium temulentum L. A NAT (ARC)
Malus domestica (Suckow) Borkh. A NAT (ARC) A NAT (ARC)
Mespilus germanica L. A NAT (ARC) A NAT (ARC)
Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth A CAS (NEO)
Oxalis articulata Savigny A NAT (NEO)
Oxalis pes-caprae L. A INV (NEO)
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. A NAT (NEO)
Prunus amygdalus Batsch A CAS (ARC)
Prunus cerasus L. A CAS (ARC) A CAS (ARC)
Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi A CAS (NEO)
Robinia pseudoacacia L. A INV (NEO)
Solanum chenopodioides Lam. A NAT (NEO)
Solanum lycopersicum L. A CAS (NEO)
Sulla coronaria (L.) B.H.Choi & H.Ohashi A NAT
Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. A INV (NEO)
Trifolium incarnatum L. subsp. incarnatum A NAT (ARC)
Veronica persica Poir. A INV (NEO) A INV (NEO)
Vicia faba L. A CAS (ARC)
Vitis × koberi Ardenghi, Galasso, Banfi & Lastrucci A NAT (NEO)
Yucca gloriosa L. A NAT (NEO)

The floristic comparison between the study areas and the Campania region (Table 7) shows that the Tifatini include higher percentages of native (22.9%) and alien (8.9%) species, whereas the Trebulani include a higher proportion of endemic species (7.8%).

Comparison of the floristic composition of the study areas (Tifatini and Trebulani) with that of the Campania region, in terms of native, alien, and endemic vascular plant species currently present in the region. Percentages refer to the proportion of the regional flora represented in each study area.

Floristic parameter Campania Tifatini (%) Trebulani (%)
Native species (excluding hybrids) 2408 551 (22.9) 361 (15.0)
Alien species 450 40 (8.9) 8 (1.8)
Endemic species 179 9 (5.0) 14 (7.8)
Discussion

More than 20 years after the publication of the previous assessment of the state of floristic knowledge in Italy (Scoppola and Blasi 2005), little progress has been made in understanding the distribution of vascular flora in the administrative region of Campania (Domina et al. 2026). Indeed, apart from a few floras (i.e., Motti and Salerno 2006; De Natale and Strumia 2007; Nazzaro et al. 2007; Corazzi 2008; Croce et al. 2008, 2011; Stinca and Motti 2009; Croce et al. 2019) and several floristic contributions (e.g., Rosati et al. 2012, 2017; Stinca et al. 2012, 2013, 2017a, 2017b, 2019a, 2019b; Stinca and Motti 2013; Salerno and Stinca 2017; Stinca 2017, 2019; Motti et al. 2018; Del Guacchio et al. 2020; Croce et al. 2021), which overall have certainly improved the botanical knowledge of some parts of the region, most areas that in 2005 were considered almost unexplored, or for which only generic knowledge was available, remain poorly known today. As the largest knowledge gaps are mainly in the northern (i.e., province of Caserta) and eastern sectors (i.e., provinces of Avellino and Benevento) of the region, our study attempts to fill at least part of this gap. On the other hand, while botanists are attracted to mountain ranges with a wide altitudinal range (which generally have a higher degree of naturalness) and coastal areas (often easier to reach), they are generally less interested in studying flat and hilly areas as these are considered of little conservation interest. However, the latter areas are precisely those with the highest rates of land-use change and urbanization, both in Campania (di Gennaro and Innamorato 2005) and throughout Italy (Romano et al. 2017) and, therefore, deserve greater conservation attention from policymakers.

The data obtained in this study indicate that the Tifatini and Trebulani host a rich and noteworthy vascular flora. Since we selected an equal number of sampling sites (11 in each area), which covered a very similar total surface area (6.91 km2 in the Tifatini and 7.56 km2 in the Trebulani), we suggest that the difference in species richness recorded between the two hilly-mountain systems (591 species in the Tifatini and 369 in the Trebulani) may be partly related to differences in sampling effort (Gotelli and Colwell 2001), as suggested by the higher number of specimens collected in the Tifatini Mountains (2,623 vs. 1,364). In this regard, we emphasize that most of the data presented here were collected during a four-day WGFSE floristic excursion held in 2017, during which only the last two days were devoted to surveys in the Trebulani Mountains. This unequal allocation of survey time likely resulted in lower sampling intensity in that area and may partly explain the observed differences in species richness. During floristic surveys, previously recorded species are generally not repeatedly recorded once detected within the same survey session, resulting in a progressive focus on the detection of additional taxa. This leads to a natural saturation in species detection, consistent with the species accumulation theory (Gotelli and Colwell 2001; Chao et al. 2014).

Despite the limitations of the study outlined above, we consider it useful to evaluate the biogeographical relevance of the study areas by comparing their flora with that of Campania as a whole (Bartolucci et al. 2024; Galasso et al. 2024), focusing only on species recorded as currently present in the region. The comparison highlights the contribution of the Tifatini and Trebulani to the overall floristic diversity of the region and the consistency of their taxonomic structure with regional patterns. In particular, the higher proportion of endemic species on the Trebulani suggests a potentially greater biogeographical and conservation relevance of this area.

Overall, the observed floristic composition closely corresponds to the vegetation units identified across the Tifatini and Trebulani, which are characterised by a mosaic of forest formations and thermophilous to xeric grassland communities. This correspondence suggests that habitat diversity and the spatial arrangement of these vegetation types play an important role in structuring local plant diversity patterns within the study area. In particular, the coexistence of relatively mesic woodland patches, open grasslands, and rocky xeric habitats contributes to the observed floristic heterogeneity, supporting a mixture of widespread Mediterranean taxa and habitat-specialised species.

Concerning the native taxa, Cymbalaria glutinosa subsp. brevicalcarata is the most phytogeographically significant species recorded in the study area. It is a rare endemic subspecies restricted to Campania, known from a few localities in the Lattari Mountains (where its locus classicus occurs [Peruzzi et al. 2015]), Cilento, Matese, and Trebulani Mountains (Bigazzi and Raffaelli 2000). Our exploration, in addition to confirming this taxon on the Trebulani (sampling sites n. 7-A, 7-B and 7-C), also reports its occurrence on the Tifatini (sites n. 3-B and 4). We note that, in agreement with Conti et al. (2005), the record of this taxon for Abruzzo by Bigazzi and Raffaelli (2000) is incorrect, as the Municipality of San Gregorio Matese falls within the administrative boundaries of Campania. It is also noteworthy that we recorded the endemic Globularia cordifolia subsp. neapolitana on the Trebulani (site n. 7-C), whose global distribution is restricted to a few localities in the Lattari Mountains, Island of Capri, Picentini Mountains, and Mt. Camposauro (Stinca et al. 2019c and references therein).

Except for Siler montanum subsp. stabianum, a recently re-evaluated taxon (Conti et al. 2021), all other recorded Italian endemic taxa are included in the IUCN Red List of the Italian Flora (Rossi et al. 2013, 2020; Orsenigo et al. 2018, 2021), together with the following non-endemics: Allium neapolitanum Cirillo, A. pendulinum Ten., A. roseum L. subsp. roseum, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T.Durand & Schinz, Arisarum proboscideum (L.) Savi, Bellevalia romana (L.) Sweet, Carex olbiensis Jord., Colchicum lusitanum Brot., Drymochloa drymeja (Mert. & W.D.J.Koch) Holub, Galanthus nivalis L., Gastridium phleoides (Nees & Meyen) C.E.Hubb., Hermodactylus tuberosus (L.) Mill., Koeleria splendens C.Presl, Legousia falcata (Ten.) Fritsch, Lysimachia loeflingii F.J.Jiménez-López & M.Talavera, Melica minuta L., Ophrys lutea Cav. subsp. lutea, O. lutea Cav. subsp. sicula (Tineo) Soldano, O. tenthredinifera Willd., Orchis italica Poir., O. pauciflora Ten., O. provincialis Balb. ex Lam. & DC., Phagnalon rupestre (L.) DC. subsp. rupestre, Pulmonaria hirta L., Serapias bergonii E.G.Camus, S. lingua L., Himantoglossum adriaticum H.Baumann, Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring, Sesleria autumnalis (Scop.) F.W.Schultz, S. juncifolia Suffren. All Red List species have been assessed as least concern (LC), apart from Cymbalaria glutinosa subsp. brevicalcarata, Globularia cordifolia subsp. neapolitana, Legousia falcata, Melica minuta, and Polygala flavescens subsp. flavescens which have received the assessment of data deficient (DD). Among the 34 orchid taxa recorded in the study area, Himantoglossum adriaticum (sampling site n. 13; not included in any Natura 2000 site) is listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and is therefore noteworthy. Similarly, Galanthus nivalis (sites n. 6, 17 and 7-C) is listed in Annex V.

Our floristic survey, in addition to documenting six species new to Campania and confirming the presence of five others in the region, has also provided material for further studies. In particular, the specimen of Gastridium phleoides collected during this study and preserved in the Herbarium Austroitalicum (IT), together with a specimen from Cilento, enabled Scoppola (2019) to confirm the occurrence of this species in Campania. Interestingly, our record from Tifatini (sampling site n. 9) confirms a historical collection by Loreto Grande dating back almost a century (i.e., Tifati [Puccianello], 3 July 1927, L. Grande, RO, sub Gastridium ventricosum) (Scoppola 2019). It should also be noted that, based on specimens collected in the study area and preserved in the Herbarium Austoitalicum (IT), Stinca (2019) reported Vitis × koberi Ardenghi, Galasso, Banfi & Lastrucci for the first time in Campania.

As for the fernlike Ophioglossum lusitanicum L., it is considered a rare species in Campania (Stinca 2023). In the study area, it forms small plant communities that were recently described as a new association named Euphorbio exiguae-Ophioglossetum lusitanici Perrino, Stinca & Tomaselli (Perrino et al. 2022).

Regarding the genus Hyparrhenia, following the taxonomic framework proposed by Tison and de Foucault (2014), Pignatti et al. (2017a, 2019), and Rico (2021), almost all specimens collected in the study area exhibit morphological traits attributable to Hyparrhenia sinaica (Delile) Llauradó ex G.López, which would, therefore, represent a new record for Campania. This SW-Steno-Mediterranean taxon is considered a valid species by several authors (e.g., POWO 2026b; Gianguzzi et al. 2023; Verloove et al. 2024), although it has recently been included within H. hirta (L.) Stapf (Bartolucci et al. 2024).

Concerning the non-native flora, 26 species were neophytes and nine were considered invasive in the study area as well as in Campania (i.e., Ailanthus altissima, Bidens subalternans, Crepis sancta subsp. nemausensis, Erigeron bonariensis, Erigeron canadensis, Euphorbia prostrata, Oxalis pes-caprae, Robinia pseudoacacia, Tradescantia fluminensis, and Veronica persica). With regard to Cestrum parqui, although it is considered invasive in Campania (Galasso et al. 2024), in the study area it shows limited spread from environments of deliberate introduction (e.g., roadsides and fields) and should be regarded as naturalized. We emphasize that, although Chamaerops humilis subsp. humilis and Sulla coronaria are well-known native species to the Mediterranean region (including Italy), both are cultivated in the study area (A. Stinca, pers. comm.). Therefore, the populations recorded on Tifatini likely spread from nearby cultivated individuals and can be regarded as non-native. The occurrence of non-native species in the study area is not unexpected, as large portions of the territory, particularly the Tifatini, are embedded within a highly anthropized landscape characterised by agricultural land use, infrastructure development, and fire disturbance. This condition is consistent with the broader pattern of intense urbanisation and land consumption documented for the province of Caserta and surrounding areas (Mauro et al. 2023), where urban sprawl and fragmentation of rural landscapes have progressively increased in recent decades. This interpretation aligns with previous studies highlighting the role of human-mediated disturbance in promoting plant invasions in southern Italy (Olivares et al. 2019; Motti et al. 2021). Although Mediterranean ecosystems have been described as relatively resistant to plant invasions due to their climatic and biotic characteristics (Arianoutsou et al. 2013), recent evidence indicates a progressive increase in alien species in the region, including southern Italy, largely driven by land-use change and habitat modification (Rosati et al. 2020; Stinca et al. 2021; Musarella et al. 2024). Within this framework, the higher number of alien taxa recorded in the Tifatini compared to the Trebulani may reflect differences in the intensity and spatial distribution of anthropogenic disturbance across the two systems.

Despite recent advances in plant taxonomy and in agreement with observations from a previous WGFSE floristic excursion (e.g., Stinca et al. 2019a), several taxonomic groups of the Italian and European flora remain critical and require further investigation, including Anthyllis vulneraria and Centaurea deusta (e.g., Stinca et al. 2019d). Regarding the Quercus pubescens complex, a taxonomically challenging group well known to Italian botanists (e.g., Di Pietro et al. 2020), some individuals found in the study area showed morphological characteristics intermediate between Q. pubescens and other white oak species (i.e., Q. frainetto Ten., Q. robur L. subsp. robur, and Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl. subsp. petraea), suggesting introgressive hybridization between these taxa. Our findings, therefore, support the results of previous studies conducted in Italy (e.g., Salvini et al. 2009; Fortini et al. 2015). For some groups analyzed in this study (e.g., Bromus hordeaceus complex, Cerastium brachypetalum complex, Carex flacca complex, Micromeria graeca complex, Pilosella piloselloides complex), limited knowledge of diagnostic characters distinguishing taxa, together with current taxonomic treatments that allow different subspecies to coexist in the same areas and habitats, suggests that the present taxonomic framework is inadequate and does not reflect the modern concept of subspecies (Wilson and Brown 1953; Patten and Unitt 2002).

 Conclusions

The floristic data presented in this paper, although not exhaustive of the plant biodiversity of the Tifatini and Trebulani Mountains, provide a valuable contribution to the knowledge of the vascular flora of both geomorphological complexes. Until now, limited information has been available for these areas, most of it dating back to the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Finally, we believe that our study provides an important baseline for improving floristic knowledge of the area and for supporting its conservation and sustainable management.

 Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to: Lorenzo Cecchi (University of Firenze, Italy), Gianniantonio Domina (University of Palermo, Italy), Dino Marchetti (Massa, Italy) and Lorenzo Peruzzi (University of Pisa, Italy), for revisions of some critical specimens.

Adriano Stinca is grateful to: Gennaro Testa and Domenico Raimondo (Consorzio di Tutela Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, Caserta, Italy), for hosting with great kindness the workshop held in Caserta; Mauro Felicori and Addolorata Ines Peduto (Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo, Reggia di Caserta, Caserta, Italy), for the warm welcome at the Royal Palace of Caserta; Mauro Rossi and Daniela Castaldi (Library of the Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy), for providing access to numerous scientific papers; Melania Eviano, Giuseppe Marino and Elisa Vecchio, for their assistance during the fieldwork and workshop held in Caserta.

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The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

 Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) use

The authors accept full responsibility for the content of the manuscript, including the disclosure of any use of AI.

No AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.

 Funding

The financial support by Fondazione per la Flora Italiana for the publication fee is also gratefully acknowledged.

 Author contributions

Conceptualization: A. Stinca. Methodology: A. Stinca, L. Rosati, G. Salerno, S. Fascetti. Investigation: all Authors. Data curation: all Authors. Formal analysis: all Authors. Funding acquisition: A. Stinca. Project administration: A. Stinca. Visualization: A. Stinca. Writing – original draft: A. Stinca. Writing – review & editing: all Authors.

 Author ORCIDs

A. Stinca https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8275-0184

F. Bartolucci https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8199-6003

G. Bonari https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5574-6067

L. Cancellieri https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0102-259X

G. Caruso https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4370-0375

F. Conti https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7391-6691

R. Di Pietro https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4983-8931

S. Fascetti https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6870-0108

P. Fortini https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4481-2126

G. Galasso https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2501-456X

M. Iberite https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2771-2935

C.M. Musarella https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-190X

R. Pennesi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-5581

E.V. Perrino https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0555-4139

F. Roma-Marzio https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2184-0311

A. Santangelo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5560-1725

A. Scoppola https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7389-5608

M.G. Sperandii https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2507-5928

A. Esposito https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2937-7373

 Data availability

All data supporting the findings of this study are included in the Suppl. material 1: table SS1. The voucher specimens examined in this study are deposited in the herbaria listed in Table 2 and are available for study upon reasonable request to the respective herbarium curators.

 Supplementary materials 10.3897/italianbotanist.22.189945.suppl1 21716367 355EC126-006F-580D-87AE-14906B848C1D

Supplementary information

docx

 https://binary.pensoft.net/file/1731067 This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited. Adriano Stinca, Enrico Banfi, Fabrizio Bartolucci, Gianmaria Bonari, Laura Cancellieri, Giuseppe Caruso, Gennaro Domenico Cennamo, Fabio Conti, Giuseppe D’Auria, Romeo Di Pietro, Simonetta Fascetti, Paola Fortini, Gabriele Galasso, Mauro Iberite, Edda Lattanzi, Fernando Lucchese, Giulia Montepaone, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Riccardo Pennesi, Enrico Vito Perrino, Maria Ravo, Vito Antonio Romano, Francesco Roma-Marzio, Leonardo Rosati, Giovanni Salerno, Annalisa Santangelo, Anna Scoppola, Adriano Soldano, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Agnese Tilia, Assunta Esposito