engleski

Morphological variability of the <i>Dianthus ciliatus</i> complex (Caryophyllaceae) in the Adriatic region

The Dianthus ciliatus complex has three morphologically very similar subspecies that are geographically well defined in the Adriatic region. The nominal subspecies D. ciliatus subsp. ciliatus occurs in northern and central Adriatic and in central Italy, while D. ciliatus subsp. dalmaticus (Čelak.) Hayek is endemic to southern Adriatic and D. ciliatus subsp. medunensis (Beck et Szyszył.) Trinajstić is endemic to Montenegro and Albania. Because of previously unclear morphological distinctions and due to the overlapping of morphological characters, it was not possible to define the subspecies unambiguously. A morphometric analysis was performed on the collected herbarium materials of the three subspecies, in total including 66 individuals from 22 populations across the Adriatic region (11 populations of D. ciliatus subsp. ciliatus, seven populations of D. ciliatus subsp. dalmaticus, and four populations of D. ciliatus subsp. medunensis). Seventeen quantitative and five qualitative morphological characters were analysed. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were performed, and seven morphological characters that describe the size and shape of epicalyx scales had statistically significant differences among subspecies. Those seven characters (epicalyx height, outer second scale width and length, outer first scale width and length, inner scale length and apex length of first outer scale) can be used to better distinguish between D. ciliatus subsp. ciliatus and the other two subspecies. Dianthus ciliatus subsp. dalmaticus and D. ciliatus subsp. medunensis can also be distinguished on the basis of petal colour and petal denticulation. Based on this morphometric analysis, an identification key for the subspecies of D. ciliatus complex was given, and a taxonomic revision of herbarium specimens from CNHM, ZA, ZAGR and ZAHO was also performed.

amphi-Adriatic species ; Balkan ; Dianthus ; endemics ; morphometry

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