Leontodon and Scorzoneroides (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) in Italy

Abstract

Sandro Pignatti's Flora d'Italia was published in 1982. In this work, the genus Leontodon was edited by the late Helga Pittoni (Graz). Since then, a large amount of new data about the systematics and taxonomy of Leontodon s.l. have been acquired. The most important new aspect is that, based on molecular data, the former subgenera Leontodon and Oporinia are now regarded as separate genera, Leontodon s.str. and Scorzoneroides, respectively. Moreover, new assessments of some critical taxa resulted in some new names as compared to the first edition of the Flora d'Italia. The changes presented here are not only discussed in comparison with the first edition of the Flora d'Italia but also with regard to its predecessor (Fiori 1927) and to Flora Europaea (Finch and Sell 1976). Apart from a discussion of changes in nomenclature and taxon delimitation, identification keys are presented to distinguish between the genera Leontodon and Scorzoneroides, and to identify their Italian members.