The<i>Ranunculus auricomus</i>L. complex (Ranunculaceae) in Central and Southern Italy, with additions to North Italian taxa

Summary The Ranunculus auricomus complex in Central and Southern Italy has been classified and analyzed morphologically. Corresponding to a known genetic variation, a high morphological variability of Ranunculus marsicus was found leading to segregation of two new varieties var. approximans and var. incisior. In addition to species already published by Pignatti and other authors, the following taxa are described and depicted: Ranunculus bariscianus, R. multidens, and R. pedrottii from the Central Apennines, and R. bovii, a new endemic of the Aosta Valley. R. boreoapenninus had been found in the Tuscany but has not been confirmed recently. R. silanus, a completely geographically isolated member of the R. auricomus complex from Calabria is still present. The amount of knowledge on the Ranunculus auricomus complex in Italy may serve as a basis for further research; this should preferentially be of a biomolecular kind to disclose the genetic relations and the evolution of the taxa concerned.