An annotated key to the species of Gastridium (Poaceae) with distributional novelties to the Italian territory

This is the final paper: “An annotated key to the species of Gastridium (Poaceae) with distributional novelties to the Italian territory, published in NATURAL HISTORY SCIENCES, vol. 6, p. 29-36, ISSN: 2385-0922, doi: 10.4081/nhs.2019.429

download from: https://sisn.pagepress.org/index.php/nhs/article/view/429

Abstract - Gastridium is a Mediterranean-paleotropical genus of
the Poaceae family, native to Italy. Species number and diversity were
imperfectly known until recent taxonomic updates on morphological
and molecular basis that enhanced our knowledge of this taxon. The
present contribution provides a complete key of the genus, encompassing
the four currently known closely related species, G. lainzii, G.
phleoides, G. scabrum, and G. ventricosum. The essential features of
panicle, spikelets, and florets are specified and briefly discussed. Revisions
of ancient and recent herbarium specimens provided three Italian
distributional novelties for G. phleoides concerning Liguria, Campania,
and Puglia and two for G. scabrum concerning Liguria and Basilicata.
In contrast, the distributional ranges of G. scabrum and G. lainzii in
the W Mediterranean region remain poorly known and await further
investigations.