Notes about Ononis viscosa L. and O. breviflora DC. in Italy [Alcune note su Ononis viscosa L. e O. breviflora DC. in Italia]

Ononis viscosa L. and O. breviflora DC. are two very closely related entities from a morfological and ecological point of view so that many authors consider them subspecies or even varieties. This contribution investigates their real presence in Italy by analyzing herbarium samples, bibliographic data and direct observation in the field. The length of the corolla compared to the calyx and of the raceme axis compared to the axilla leaf under the arista are two constant characters that differentiate them and all the italian samples examined, including those referred to as O. viscosa in the past, could be included in the variety of O. breviflora if the binomial be valid. The results of this research allows us to exclude O. viscosa from the Tuscan and Italian floras even through the systematic problem af the two taxa remains open and worthy of further study. © 2018 Società Botanica Italiana onlus.