Research Article |
Corresponding author: Federico Selvi ( federico.selvi@unifi.it ) Academic editor: Fabrizio Bartolucci
© 2020 Federico Selvi.
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.
Citation:
Selvi F (2020) Anthyllis cytisoides L. (Fabaceae), new to the Italian native flora. Italian Botanist 10: 25-31. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.10.55154
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We present the first finding of Anthyllis cytisoides L. in Italy. This western Mediterranean woody species was found close to the coastline on the southwest side of Mt. Argentario in southern Tuscany, on limestone rocks within a xerophytic garrigue community of the Erico multiflorae-Rosmarinetum officinali association. A description of the plant is given along with an original iconography and photos taken in the field. The reasons for considering this population of natural origin are briefly discussed, along with the possible causes of its wide disjunction from the rest of the species range.
disjunct populations, Fabaceae, Italian flora, Leguminosae, mediterranean plants, Tuscan phytogeography
The genus Anthyllis L. belongs to subfamily Papilionoideae (
The Italian flora includes four species, A. barba-jovis L., A. hermanniae L. (with three subspecies), A. montana L., and the taxomically critical group of A. vulneraria L. s.l., where some 15 infraspecific taxa have been recognized (
Anthyllis cytisoides
L. is a diploid woody species closely related to A. terniflora (Lag.) Pau and belonging to the core group of Anthyllis (
Based on current information, A. cytisoides is native to Nortwestern Africa (Algeria and Morocco), the Iberian peninsula, including the Balearic islands, and southern France (Languedoc-Roussilon and Provence;
Italia, Toscana, Monte Argentario (Grosseto province), rocce calcaree nella gariga bassa a erica multiflora e rosmarino verso La Ciana fra Punta Avoltore e Punta di Torre Ciana (WGS84: 42°22.25'N, 11°09.98'E), 80 m, 23 May 2020, F. Selvi & I. Bettarini (Herb. Selvi no. 3975 in FI!).
Nano-phanerophyte up to 60 cm, much-branched from a woody base; branches erect, unarmed, with whitish indumentum of short appressed hairs. Leaves softly pubescent, the lower mostly unifoliolate, 1.8–2.5 × 0.7–0.9 mm, ovate-lanceolate, apiculate; petiole 8–9 mm long, slightly dilatated at the base and provided with two scale-like stipules of ca. 0.2 mm. Mid-cauline and upper leaves mostly trifoliolate, with central leaflet petiolated, obovate-lanceolate, 1.3–1.8 × 4–6 mm, and lateral leaflets much smaller, 0.5–0.8 × 0.2–0.3 mm, acute at apex. Flowers grouped in 2–4 in subsessile fascicles arranged in a lax spiciform inflorescence up to 20 cm long, each fascicle inserted at the axil of ovate-lanceolate bracts, the lower often divided in two or three segments, pointed at apex, pubescent, nearly as long as long as flowers. Flowers ca. 10 mm, subsessile. Calyx villous-pubescent, tubular, 5–6 × 2–2.5 mm, with slightly obliquous mouth and very narrow teeth, these shorter than tube (2 mm), the upper slightly longer than the lower ones. Corolla yellow, with standard petal ca. 4.2 × 3 mm and wings ca. 1 mm longer than keel. Androecium sub-monoadelphous, with one stamen partially free. Legume 3–4 × 2 mm, monosperm, obovoid, apiculate; seeds 1.2 × 2 mm, reniform and smooth (seeds not seen, data from the literature).
Figures
Anthyllis cytisoides
was found on Mt. Argentario, a former island of the Tuscan Archipelago that became connected to the south Tuscan mainland during the Quaternary age by two sandy isthms (
No incumbent threats to the population could be be identified. However, its very small size exposes it to any stochastic or unpredictable event that may occur at the site. The main risk is probably collection by unaware people, considering that the plants are easily accessible from a dirt road and close to a panoramic point.
Anthyllis cytisoides appears new to the Italian flora, as no literature record exists that can document its presence over the national territory, even in historical times. This is supported by the study of herbarium collections in FI (!) and FIAF (!), all of which coming from France, Spain (e.g. Spain, Barcelone, Costas de Garraf, falaises argilo-calcaires, 16.05.1929, F. Sennen 7241; Baleares, Palma à Cas Catala, garrigues, 12.06.1933, F. Sennen 8617) and Morocco (Kabila de los Santos, escarpements calcaires, 07.05.1931, Sennen et Mauricio s.n.; Beni-Bu-Yahi, montes Idbiren, 21.06.1932, Sennen et Mauricio 8392).
Biogeographically, the presence in Tuscany is noteworthy as it extends considerably to the east the range of this mainly western mediterranean species. In fact, the Tuscan population is quite isolated from the closest ones in southern France, that occur about 500 km to the west (Fig.
Assuming that the population is native to Mt. Argentario, the question arises about the causes of such a wide disjunction from the rest of the species range. Two hypotheses can be offered. The population could be a remain of a formerly more continuous range along the coasts of the north Tyrrhenian basin, from south France to Liguria and Tuscany. More probably, it could be more recent and originated fom events of long-distance dispersal mediated by overwintering birds with seasonal migration from north Africa to the north Mediterranean and rest of Europe. Many of these bird species are important agents of plant dispersal and have likely contributed to the homogenization of the floras of North Africa and the Mediterranean countries (
The finding of a woody species new to Italy on Mt. Argentario may appear unexpected, as this area is considered phytogeographically well-known (
Original drawing of Anthyllis cytisoides L. from Mt. Argentario, based on collection Selvi 3975 (original artwork by Laura Vivona) A branch with leaves and inflorescence B single fascicle of flowers with bract C dissected flower showing (from the left), standard petal, wings, stamens, keel and calyx teeth.
Distribution range of A. cytisoides (yellow to red dots show increasing frequency of records) and locality of its finding in Tuscany (asterisk; adapted from GBIF, https://www.gbif.org/species/5352466).
I am grateful to Isabella Bettarini for being in the field with me whenever possible, sharing interests and work during botanical trips and excursions. Laura Vivona made the original drawing of the plant and assisted with preparation of Fig.