Vol. 76 No. 1 (2021)
Articles

The taxonomic circumscription of Aconitum subgenus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) in Europe

Józef Mitka
Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Institute of Botany, Botanical Garden
Andriy Novikov
State Natural History Museum NAS of Ukraine, Teatralna str. 18, Lviv 79008, Ukraine
Walter Rottensteiner
Klosterwiesgasse 12, A-8010 Graz, Austria

Published 2021-04-07

Keywords

  • Aconitum,
  • geographical distribution,
  • Europe,
  • hybrids,
  • Linnaean taxonomy,
  • nomenclature,
  • species concept
  • ...More
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How to Cite

Mitka, J., Novikov, A., & Rottensteiner, W. (2021). The taxonomic circumscription of Aconitum subgenus Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) in Europe. Webbia, 76(1), 11–45. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-10006

Abstract

In this article, we present a revised taxonomic circumscription of Aconitum subg. Aconitum (Ranunculaceae) in Europe. In total, the subgenus contains some 250 species with the major center of diversity in Eastern Asia. Altogether 94 taxa (species and infraspecific taxa, including hybrids) occur in Europe. Among them, 22 are native species, and 28 are nothospecies (including hybrid formulae). The research is based on former (since Linnaeus) and recent species diagnoses integrating herbarium and field studies carried out in the Alps, Carpathians, Balkans, Spanish Sierra Nevada, Sudetes, and Corsica. The subgenus includes three sections in Europe: the diploid sect. Cammarum, the tetraploid sect. Aconitum, and the monospecific, allopolyploid sect. Angustifolium. Additionally, a triploid, hybridogenous nothosection Acomarum (sect. Aconitum × sect. Cammarum) is presented. For each species, type citation, a concise morphological description, including infraspecific variation and hybridization, geographical distribution, and iconography sources are given. Also, a key to the determination of all taxa is presented. The proposed system scrutinizes former and recent species concepts and gives a base for further studies on the genus’ phylogeny and biotechnology.