Anthyllis apennina F.Conti & Bartolucci, 2021

Conti, Fabio & Bartolucci, Fabrizio, 2021, Anthyllis apennina (Fabaceae), a new species from central Apennine (Italy), PhytoKeys 176, pp. 111-129 : 111

Anthyllis apennina F.Conti & Bartolucci sp. nov. Figs 2 , 3

Diagnosis.

Anthyllis apennina differs from A. pulchella by the bigger cauline leaves and leaflets, leaves evenly distributed along the flowering stem vs. concentrated in lower half, higher number of inflorescences 2-5(-10) vs. 1-2, smaller flowers with standard (7.9-)8.5-9.9(-10.3) vs. (10-)10.4-13.6(-13.8) mm long, longer bracts (12-)14-23(-26) vs. (5.8-)6.5-11(-12) mm long, longer than flowers, with longer lobes (10-)11-21.5(-24) vs. (3.2-)3.9-7.5(-9) mm long, narrowly triangular and acute to apiculate vs. more or less parallel-sided and obtuse and by the colour of flowers which are mainly light yellow or flushed with pink vs. purplish-pink or cream flushed with pink and the calyx which is mainly pink only in the upper part.

Type.

Italy. Abruzzo, M. Tricella (Ortona dei Marsi), pascoli aridi, 1300 m a.s.l., 29/05/2017, F. Bartolucci, F. Conti & L. Di Martino s.n. (holotype APP No. 59652; isotypes APP Nos. 59645, 59648, 59650, 59651, 59653, 59666) (Fig. 3 ) .

Description.

Annual, erect branched to straggling. Stem height (110-)160-330(-450) mm. Stem appressed sericeous over its whole length. Leaves alternate, pinnate, densely appressed hairy on the lower side, glabrous on the upper side (basal and lower cauline leaves) or sparsely hairy with long hairs (middle and upper cauline leaves), the basal ones usually withered at anthesis, (16-)17.6-35(-55) mm, reduced to a terminal leaflet or imparipennate with 2-5 leaflets with a much larger terminal leaflet elliptic, ovate or obovate, obtuse, (7-)8,9-19.1(-24) × (4-)5-13.1(14) mm, lateral leaflets 0-5.7(-9) × 0-2.9(-4.9) mm. Stem with 3-4(-6) leaves at subequal distances along the flowering stem. Lower cauline leaf (32-)42.8-69.4(-74) mm, imparipennate with 3-7 leaflets with a much larger terminal leaflet ovate or obovate, obtuse to acute, (15-)19.6-33.8(-40) × (8-)9.6-17.4(-22) mm, lateral leaflets (4-)4.6-15.6(-21) × (1.2-)2.1-5.4(-6) mm. Upper cauline leaves (24-)26-40(-44) mm, imparipennate with 7-13 leaflets subequal (equifoliolate), terminal leaflet narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate, acute to apiculate, (13-)15-27(-29) × (2.5-)2.8-6(-8) mm, lateral leaflets (12.5-)14-25(-27) × (2-)2.2-4(-7) mm. Every stem with 2-5(-10) heads, many flowered subtended by 2 palmatisect bracts borne close beneath the flowers. Flowers light yellow or flushed with pink. Bracts (12-)14-23(-26) mm, lobes of bracts 3-7, (10-)11-21.5(24) mm, narrowly triangular, tapering, appressed hairy, acute to apiculate. Calyx (8.3-)8.5-10.4(-10.9) × (5.9-)6.2-7.8(-8.3) mm, whitish to yellowish, pink to pink-purple at apex, in dry specimens weakly pink, hairy subpatent, upper teeth triangular (0.3-)0.4-0.6(-0.9) mm at base, large (0.3-)0.4-0.9(-1) mm. Lateral teeth triangular (0.3-)0.4-0.7 mm, at base large (0.3-)0.4-0.7 mm. Lower tooth narrowly triangular to linear (0.5-)0.6-0.9(-1) × 0.3-0.6 mm. Standard (7.9-)8.5-9.9(-10.3) × (2.3-)2.6-3.3(-3.8) mm, standard claw (4.6-)5.4-6.1(-6.4) mm. Wing (8.1-)8.8-10.1(-10.5) × (1-)1.2-1.6(-1.7) mm, wing claw (5.3-)5.8-6.8(-7) mm long. Keel (8-)9-10.5(-10.8) × 1.1-1.4(-1.6) mm, keel claw 5.6-6.1(-7.4) mm long. Ratio bract length/standard length (1.5-)1.6-2.3(-2.5) and ratio bract length/calyx length (1.4-)1.6-2.3(-3.0). Staminal tube length (without free filaments and anthers) (6.6-)7.3-8.7(-8.8) mm. Stylus (3.8-)3.9-4.3(-4.4) mm. Stigma 1.9-2(-2.1) mm. Stipe of pod (0.9-)1-1.5(-1.8) mm. Legume 1-seeded 3.5-4 × 2.8-3 mm, seeds ca. 2 mm.

Etymology.

Anthyllis apennina is named after the Apennine to which the species is endemic.

Habitat.

Pastures in montane belt from 1200 to 1800 m a.s.l.

Phenology.

Flowering from the second half of April to the end of July, fruiting in June-July.

Distribution.

Central Apennine in Lazio and Abruzzo (Fig. 1 ).

Conservation status.

Some of the populations of A. apennina occurred in a NATURA 2000 network within the Sites of Community Interest "IT7110208 Monte Calvo e Colle di Macchialunga", "IT7110206 Monte Sirente e Monte Velino", "IT710202 Gran Sasso" and within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park and Sirente-Velino Regional Park. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1788 km2 calculated with the minimum convex hull polygon in QGIS and area of occupancy (AOO) is 52 km2 calculated with a 2 × 2 km cell fixed grid. No pressures or threats are evidenced. According to IUCN Criteria ( IUCN 2019), we propose to include A. apennina in the following category: Least Concern (LC).

Morphometric analysis.

The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA, Fig. 4 ) shows on the first two axes (explained variance: 57.1% and 11.1%) a clear separation between A. apennina and A. pulchella . Concerning the intraspecific variation within A. pulchella , one separated specimen ( “37” from Turkey; see Fig. 1 and specimens examined) can be recognized in the PCoA diagram. Cluster analysis (UPGMA, Fig. 5 ), shows two well-delimited clusters supporting a clear separation between the studied species. Also in the UPGMA the specimen “37” from Turkey is separated. Most of the quantitative morphometric characters evaluated showed significant differences between the two Anthyllis species (Table 2 ). The most relevant morphological characters differentiating the two species are summarized in Table 3 and shown in Fig. 6 .

Typification of the name Anthyllis pulchella .

Visiani (1872: 141) described A. vulneraria var. pulchella providing a short description, and reporting the following type localities: "in monte Orien, et Montenegro in monte Lovçen ad alt. ped. 6000: Legit rev. Huter". Referring to the “type”, Cullen (1970) cited several syntypes of the gathering by Huter on Mt. Lovćen kept in BM, K, P, and W. The Cullen’s typification (1970) satisfies the Arts. 7.10 and 7.11 of the ICN ( Turland et al. 2018), but he did not cite a single specimen as type. However, it is possible to consider the Cullen typification as a "first-step lectotypification",that may be further narrowed to a single specimen by a "second-step lectotypification" according to Art. 9.17 of the ICN. We performed a survey for original material at PAD, where the De Visiani’s main collection is housed ( Stafleu and Cowan 1986) and in the above mentioned herbaria. We were able to trace some duplicate specimens of the gathering on Mt. Lovćen in PAD (barcode HD08734), B (barcode B 10 111324) and BM (barcodes BM000751284 and BM000751285), which can be considered for the second-step typification. These herbarium specimens are complete, well conserved and agree with the protologue and with the current application of the name ( Cullen 1968, 1970, 1976; Akeroyd 1986; Bartolucci et al. 2018). The herbarium specimen kept at PAD with barcode HD08734 is selected here as second-step lectotype.

Other names, some of which having priority at species rank, as A. scardica Wettst., A. albana Wettst., A. biebersteiniana Popl., and A. daghestanica Chinth. are regarded by some authors (e.g. Roskov et al. 2006) as synonyms of A. pulchella . These taxa need further study and/or typification.

Anthyllis vulneraria var. pulchella Vis., Fl. Dalmat. Supplementum: 141. 1872 ≡ Anthyllis pulchella (Vis.) Beck, Ann. K. K. Naturhist. Hofmus. 11: 65. 1896 ≡ Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. pulchella (Vis.) Bornm., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 59: 483. 1925.

Anthyllis vulneraria var. pusilla Vis., in schedis

Anthyllis vulneraria var. pauciflora Asch. & Huter, in schedis

Type (second-step lectotype, here designated; first-step designated by Cullen 1970: 536): Montenegro, Lovcen, 6000, 5/06/1867, Huter s.n. (PAD barcode HD08734!; isolectotypes B barcode B101113247!, BM barcodes BM000751284! and BM000751285!).

Discussion. According to Cullen (1976), in the A. vulneraria species complex, it is possible to recognise Alpestris and Vulneraria aggregates. The new species, according to some morphological characters, such as the upper cauline leaves equifoliolate, lobes of bracts tapering, acute at apex and lateral calyx teeth obscure, adpressed to the upper, belongs to the Vulneraria aggregate. The greatest diversity of the complex was found in western and southern Europe: Spain, France and Italy ( Roskov et al. 2006). Anthyllis apennina can be clearly distinguished from species belonging to A. vulneraria complex by small flowers, mainly light yellow-coloured, and bracts longer than flowers. The most similar taxon is A. pulchella , a SE European species, occurring in central Apennine and rarely sympatric with A. apennina which differs due to its smaller cauline leaves with smaller terminal leaflet, lower number of inflorescences (1-2 vs. 2-10), less divided and smaller bract (5.8-12 mm vs. 12-26 mm), bract shorter than flower (vs. longer than flower), smaller standard, wing and keel. For A. pulchella , Akeroyd (1986) reports a corolla, even larger than what we measured, to be 12-14(17) mm long. Furthermore, the calyx in A. apennina is smaller and pink-purple only at the apex, while in A. pulchella , it is purple at the apex and the coloured part is longer (see Table 3 ). Other similar taxa are: A. vulneraria subsp. nana , endemic to central Apennine, that grows in stony pastures, usually above treeline in the alpine belt, which differs from A. apennina due to its larger corollas 13-17 mm [vs. (8-)9-10.5(-10.8) mm] usually whitish or pink (vs. light yellow or flushed with pink), and bracts smaller than flowers (vs. longer than flowers); A. vulneraria subsp. vulnerarioides , a western European species, described from Moncenisio and not occurring in central Apennine ( Conti et al. 2016) characterized by stems with patent hairs (vs. appressed sericeous over its whole length), basal leaves hairy on the upper surface (vs. glabrous on the upper side), with 5-11 leaflets and the terminal one slightly larger than the lateral ones ( Tison and Foucault 2014; Conti et al. 2016; Fig. 7 ). Further studies to clarify the taxonomic position of the several taxa currently included within A. vulneraria species complex are needed. The new endemic species enriches the already considerable floristic heritage of the central Apennine. Abruzzo Region, which includes the main peaks of the central Apennines, is the fourth Italian Region, after Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria by number of endemics, but with this new taxon become the third region together with Calabria (Bartolucci et al. in press). This number has increased in recent years thanks to the activity of the Floristic Research Centre of the Apennines ( Conti 2007, 2010; Conti and Peruzzi 2006; Peruzzi et al. 2007; Conti and Uzunov 2011; Gallo and Conti 2015; Conti and Bartolucci 2017; Conti et al. 2018, 2019, 2020).

Additional specimens examined. Anthyllis apennina (paratypes). Italy. Lazio: Campo di Grano, La Brecciosa (Pescosolido), pascolo, 1700 m a.s.l., 31/07/1995, F. Conti (APP No. 30831); La Brecciosa (Pescosolido), pascolo, 1700 m a.s.l., 31/07/1995, F. Conti (APP No. 30833); sentiero Forca di Fao, M. Arcione, M. Boragine (Cittareale, Rieti), pascoli secondari, 1619-1809 m a.s.l., 17/06/2016, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & R. Pennesi (APP No. 57482); da Selvarotonda a Forca di Fao (Cittareale, Rieti), pascoli secondari, lembi di faggeta, 1533-1614 m a.s.l., 17/06/2016, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & R. Pennesi (APP No. 57525); Abruzzo: M. Ocre presso l’Acquazzese, pascoli aridi, ca.1400 m a.s.l. 21 /07/2014, F. Conti. B. Petriccione & G. Serafini s.n. (APP Nos 55539, 55537, 55538, 55540, 55541, 55542, 55543, 55544); Prati del Sirente (Secinaro), pascoli aridi, 1150 m a.s.l., 07/06/2016, L. Di Martino & F. Bartolucci (APP Nos. 59702, 59703, 59704, 59705, 59706, 59707, 59708, 59709, 59710, 59711); M. Calvo, sia Lazio che Abruzzo, presso i ripetitori (Scoppito), pascoli aridi, 1460 m a.s.l., 04/06/2017, F. Conti & V. Giacanelli (APP Nos. 59729, 59730, 59801); V.ne di Sevice (Magliano de’ Marsi), 28/06/2017, F. Conti (APP No. 59802); al valico tra S. Colombo e Santo Stefano di Sessanio, lato destro (Barisciano), pascoli aridi, 1300 m a.s.l., 18/06/2017, F. Conti (APP Nos. 59872, 59873, 59874); Colle Biferno, PNALM (Ortona dei Marsi), pascoli aridi, 1300 m a.s.l., 13/06/2017, F. Conti & F. Bartolucci (APP Nos. 59887, 59888); Piani di Pezza fino al laghetto (Rocca di Mezzo), pascoli aridi, 1460 m a.s.l., 19/04/2019, F. Conti, E. Proietti, I. Eckersley, C.Oberprieler & R. Vogt (APP Nos. 64972, 64973, 64974); Prati del Sirente, vicino alla stazione di Iris marsica (Secinaro), radure di cerrata, 1110 m a.s.l., 19/06/2019, F. Conti, E. Proietti, I. Eckersley, C. Oberprieler & R. Vogt (APP Nos. 64979, 64980); versante meridionale di Pizzo Camarda ( L’Aquila), pascoli aridi, 1500 m a.s.l., 16/07/2019, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & E. Proietti (APP Nos. 65148, 65149, 65150).

Anthyllis pulchella . Italy. Lazio: Campo di Grano, La Brecciosa (Pescosolido), pascolo, 1700 m, 31/07/1995, F. Conti (APP Nos. 30831, 30833); sentiero Forca di Fao, M. Arcione, M. Boragine (Cittareale), pascoli secondari, 1619-1809 m, 17/06/2016, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci & R. Pennesi (APP No. 57492); Abruzzo: M. Secine presso la vetta (Ateleta), pascoli, 1700-1800 m, 19/06/1997, F. Conti (APP No. 13485); Monte Argatone, Serra della Terratta, (Scanno), cresta, 2000-2200 m, 28/06/1995, F. Conti (APP No. 30832); M. Genzana (Scanno), prati alti, 2000 m, 19/07/1997, F. Conti (APP No. 35964); ibidem, 07/07/1997, F. Conti (APP No. 36077); Monte Greco - La Capriola (Barrea), 02/08/2001, F. Conti (APP No. 48654); V.ne di Sevice (Magliano De’ Marsi), 28/06/2017, F. Conti (APP No. 59800); Montagna dei Fiori (Valle Castellana), 05/06/2019, F. Conti (APP Nos. 64950, 64951); Piani di Pezza fino al laghetto (Rocca di Mezzo), pascoli aridi, 1460 m m, 19/04/2019, F. Conti, E. Proietti, I. Eckersley, C.Oberprieler & R. Vogt (APP No. 64970); Montenegro. Durmitor, Savin Kuk - Sljeme, substrato calcareo, 2000-2350 m, 08/07/1996, D. Lakusic, F. Conti & G. Tomovic, (APP No. 9082); Monte Prokletije, Festuco-Seslerietea, limestone, 1920 m, 16/07/2003, D. Lakušić, F. Conti, Z. Bulić, M. Niketić, G. Ciaschetti, G. Tomović & S. Adžiablahović (APP No. 31711); Montenegro, Lovcen, 6000, 5/06/1867, Huter s.n. (lectotype PAD barcode HD08734!; isolectotype B barcode B101113247, BM barcodes BM000751284 and BM000751285); Monte Orjen, 15/07/1868, Th. Pichler (PAD barcode HD08733); Albania. M. Çika tra Llogara e la vetta, pendii rupestri, 1020-1990 m, 23/06/2015, F. Conti, D. Lakušić, R. Di Pietro, N. Kuzmanović, A. Stinca, S. Đurović, I. Janković & R. Pennesi (APP Nos. 56418, 56477, 56498); tra Poliçan e M. Nemërçkë, pendii rupestri e pascoli, 1200-2480 m, 26/06/2015, F. Conti, D. Lakušić, R. Di Pietro, N. Kuzmanović, A. Stinca, S. Đurović, I. Janković & R. Pennesi (APP No. 56949, 57145); Greece. M. Olimpo, presso il Rifugio, 2200 m, 05/08/2009, F. Conti & D. Uzunov (APP No. 56699), ibidem, 2300-2700 m, 06/08/2009, F. Conti & D. Uzunov (APP No. 56727); Turkey. Uludag presso la vetta 2436 m, 09/07/2006, F. Conti & D. Uzunov (APP No. 56764).

Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. nana . Italy. Marche: Monte Vettore presso la cima 24/07/2013, F. Conti, A. Manzi & P. Minghetti (APP No. 62414); Lazio: sopra le prese dell’ENEL del T. Molinaro (Amatrice), Pascolo, 1350-1600 m, 12/06/2014, F. Bartolucci & F. Conti (APP No. 54814); F.so Piè di Lepre (Amatrice), pascoli, 1450-1800 m, 12/06/2014, F. Bartolucci & F. Conti (APP No. 54601); Terminillo a W di Sella Iacci 1700 m, 10/06/2003, F. Conti & G. Gottschlich (APP No. 63522); Abruzzo: Gruppo del Gran Sasso, Corno Grande presso la Sella del Brecciaio ( L’Aquila), praterie altitudinali, 2400-2500 m, 21/07/1999, F. Conti, D. Lakusic & Ph. Küpfer (APP No. 1048); Lago di Campotosto (Campotosto), pascoli aridi, incolti, 1315-1350 m, 30/05/1999, D. Tinti (APP Nos. 2602-2604); Caselle, bivio Vado di Corno ( L’Aquila), festuceti e brachipodieti, 1820 m, 13/06/2003, F. Conti et al. (APP No. 7153); Vallone di Selva Romana (Pennapiedimonte), pascoli - rupi, 1575 m, 22/06/2004, F. Conti & F. Bartolucci (APP Nos. 10726, 10727, 10736); Blockhaus-Monte Focalone (Pennapiedimonte-Caramanico Terme), pascoli sassosi, 2200 m, 28/07/2004, G. D’Orazio (APP No. 12216); loc. Il Pratuccio ( Sant’Eufemia a Majella), pascoli sassosi, 1400 m, 22/07/1987, F. Conti & G. Pirone (APP No. 13309); Monte Ocre, vallone Canavine, dal bordo superiore della faggeta alla conca di Settacque (Rocca di Cambio), pascoli sassosi, 1570 m, 22/06/2005, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci, L. Bernardo, D. Iamonico, M. Latini, R. Lorenzetti, I. Londrillo, E. Pellegrini, N. Ranalli, L. Peruzzi, E. Scassellati, D. Tinti & V. Viscosi (APP No. 15317); M. Sirente, tra la faggeta e Val Lupara (Secinaro), pendii rupestri, 1970 m, 20/06/2005, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci, L. Bernardo, D. Di Santo, D. Iamonico, M. Latini, R. Lorenzetti, N. Ranalli, L. Peruzzi, D. Tinti & V. Viscosi (APP No. 15497); Monte Sirente, valle Majori (Secinaro), Pendii rupestri, 1500-2100 m, 20/06/2005, F. Conti, F. Bartolucci, L. Bernardo, D. Di Santo, D. Iamonico, M. Latini, R. Lorenzetti, N. Ranalli, L. Peruzzi, D. Tinti & V. Viscosi (APP No. 15549); Gran Sasso, tra Vado di Corno e Valle dell’Inferno (Isola del Gran Sasso), Pascoli, 1950 m, 17/07/2004, F. Conti & F. Bartolucci (APP No. 16617); Gran Sasso - M. Camicia, versante occidentale (Castel del Monte), pascoli, 1800-2000 m, 21/07/1997, F. Conti (APP No. 17536); Gruppo della Laga - Valle del Rio Castellano, Vado di Annibale - Cima Lepri (Valle Castellana), pascoli e praterie, 2119 m, 22/06/2005, S. Cecchetti (APP No. 21299); Gruppo della Laga - Valle del Rio Castellano, Macera della Morte - Pizzitello (Rocca S. Maria), pascoli e praterie, 2200 m, 19/07/2005, S. Cecchetti (APP No. 21300); Gruppo della Laga - Valle del Rio Castellano, Pianaccio (Valle Castellana), praterie, pascoli sassosi, alvei di torrente, 1850-2090 m, 14/07/2005, F. Conti & S. Cecchetti (APP No. 21301); Gruppo della Laga - Valle del Rio Castellano, cascata del Diedro - Pedatelle (Rocca S. Maria), rupi arenacee, pascoli, praterie, 1730 m, 23/06/2005, S. Cecchetti (APP No. 21302); M. di Valle Caprara, Costa dell’Ortella, Gioia dei Marsi (Lecce nei Marsi), pascoli, 1800-1900 m, 15/06/1997, F. Conti & F. Minutillo (APP No. 33406); Monte Focalone (Fara San Martino), 2100-2500 m, 08/08/2008, F. Conti, J. Meister & F. Minutillo (APP No. 36451); Serra Lunga (Villavallelonga), pascoli e faggeta, 1759 m, 15/06/2010, F. Bartolucci & N. Ranalli (APP No. 50080); Campo Pericoli (Pietracamela), Pascoli sassosi, 2200 m, 23/07/2009, F. Bartolucci & M. Iocchi (APP No. 50417); Pizzo Cefalone ( L’Aquila), Pascolo - rupi, 2200-2400 m, 20/06/2013, A. Stinca & F. Bartolucci (APP No. 52707); Monte Camicia, south east flank above Rif. Fonte Vetica (Castel del Monte), pascoli, rupi, 1600-2500 m, 16/07/2013, A. Stinca & F. Bartolucci (APP No. 52759); tra la Sella di M. Aquila e la cresta del Duca ( L’Aquila), pascoli - rupi, 2200-2300 m, 25/06/2013, A. Stinca & F. Bartolucci (APP No. 52774); presso le Gondole (Santo Stefano di Sessanio), pascoli aridi, 10/05/2013, F. Conti (APP No. 52955); da Campo Imperatore a M. Aquila ( L’Aquila), pascoli e rupi, 02/07/2013, A. Stinca & F. Bartolucci (APP No. 53141); Brancastello ( L’Aquila), Pascoli, 22/08/2014, F. Conti (APP Nos. 54508, 54511, 54512, 54515); Vallone Fossaceca (Isola del Gran Sasso d’Italia), pascolo, 1200-2200 m, 31/07/2014, F. Conti & F. Bartolucci (APP Nos. 54837, 54838); Molise: vetta del Monte a Mare (Pizzone), ghiaione, 2160 m, 14/06/1993, F. Conti (APP No. 30837); Alta Valle Pagana (Pizzone), pascolo sommitale, 1900 m, 14/06/1993, F. Conti (APP No. 30838); Valle Fredda, sopra il limite del bosco (Pizzone), prato, 1800-2000 m, 06/07/1993, F. Conti (APP No. 30839); La Metuccia, Monte a Mare (Pizzone), pascolo, 1900 m, 08/07/1992, F. Conti (APP No. 30840); Valle Fredda (Pizzone), pascolo sommitale, 1800-2000 m, 16/06/1993, F. Conti (APP No. 30841); Valle Pagana ed altro circo glaciale adiacente (Pizzone), pascolo, 1900 m, 23/07/1991, F. Conti (APP No. 30842).

Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. vulnerarioides . Spain. de Castanezé à Malibierun, 10/08/1893, Saubadre (P barcode P03056343); France. Monêtier-les-Bains à Guy Chevalier, pelouses rocailleuses, 2000 m, 21/08/1901, A. Faure (GAP barcode GAP046961); ibidem, 2200 m, 25/07/1905, A. Faure (P barcode P03622952); Monêtier-les-Bains, paturages vers 2200 m, 21/08/1901, A. Faure (P barcode P03069103); ibidem, 5/08/1896 (P barcode P03069104); France/Italy: Mont Cenis, s.d., s.coll. (GAP barcode GAP042327); Mont Cenis à Savalin, Huguenin 498 (GAP barcode GAP037228); Moncenis (patta creusa), 1838, s.coll. (TO, epitype); Bardonecchia, Valfroide [ …] de Aigle, 30/07/1899, Ferrari (TO); Mt. Cenis, 1838, Bonnar (TO).

Figures

Figure 1. Distribution map of Anthyllis apennina and A. pulchella according to the analyzed material.

Figure 2. Anthyllis apennina F. Conti & Bartolucci, sp. nov. A inflorescence (Mt. Tricella, photo F. Conti) B bracts of inflorescences (Mt. Tricella, photo F. Conti) C geminate inflorescences (Prati del Sirente, photo F. Conti) D drawing from herbarium specimen APP No. 59887 collected on Colle Biferno a calyx and pod with stylus and stigma b standard c wing d keel.

Figure 3. Holotype of Anthyllis apennina F. Conti & Bartolucci (APP No. 59652, reproduced with permission of the Herbarium, Centro Ricerche Floristiche dell'Appennino, Italy).

Figure 4. Scatter plot of first two principal coordinate axes based on 31 morphological characters and 37 specimens.

Figure 5. UPGMA dendrogram, showing the phenetic relationships among the 37 studied specimens of Anthyllis apennina and A. pulchella.

Figure 6. Boxplots expressing morphological variation between Anthyllis apennina (APE) and A. pulchella (PUL): stem height (mm), lower cauline leaf length (mm), terminal leaflet length in lower cauline leaf (mm), upper cauline leaf length (mm), terminal leaflet length in upper cauline leaf (mm), bract length (mm), bract lobe lenght (mm), standard length (mm), ratio bract length / standard length. Outlined central box depicts middle 50 % of data, extending from 25 th and 75 th percentiles, and horizontal bar is the median. Ends of vertical lines (or " whiskers ") indicate minimum and maximum data values, unless outliers are present, in which case whiskers extend to a maximum of 1.5 times inter-quartile range. Circles indicate outliers.

Figure 7. A Anthyllis apennina, Mt. Tricella, Abruzzo, Italy (photo F. Conti) B Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. nana, Monte Focalone, Abruzzo, Italy (photo F. Conti) C Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. vulnerarioides, Mont Cenis, Francia (photo G. Pache) D Anthyllis pulchella, Campo Felice, Abruzzo, Italy (photo F. Conti).