Taxonomy and Distribution of Spiraea hypericifolia in Italy and Typification of the Name S. flabellata (Rosaceae)

Spiraea hypericifolia is a Eurasiatic species, distributed from SW Europe to C and SW Asia. In Italy, only the alien S. hypericifolia subsp. obovata was recorded, as naturalized in the Central Apennines. Spiraea flabellata was described from Abruzzo (Central Apennines, Italy) by Gussone in 1826 and is currently regarded as a synonym of S. hypericifolia subsp. obovata. Based on the study of living plants from locus classicus and the analysis of the original material traced in BOLO and NAP, S. flabellata should be referred instead to S. hypericifolia subsp. hypericifolia, a taxon reported here for the first time in Italy. The name S. flabellata is lectotypified with a specimen kept in NAP. Based on our study, S. hypericifolia subsp. obovata should be excluded from Italian flora. Spiraea hypericifolia subsp. hypericifolia should be considered native to Italy and added to the contingent of steppe plants of phytogeographic and conservation interest recorded in the Central Apennines. Finally, the conservation status assessment of S. hypericifolia subsp. hypericifolia according to IUCN categories and criteria, is proposed and discussed.

Automated summary

The study discovered Spiraea hypericifolia subsp. hypericifolia for the first time in Italy and suggested that it should be considered as a native species in the country, deserving conservation efforts.