Genetic and morphological data reveal new insights into the taxonomy of Campanula versicolor s.l. (Campanulaceae)

Abstract

Campanula versicolor is a constituent of the Campanula pyramidalis complex, distributed in the central and southern Balkan Peninsula with a small disjunct range in SE Italy. The taxonomy of the broadly defined C. versicolor was controversial in the past due to high morphological variability of the populations across the range. We used microsatellite DNA data along with morphometric analyses on an extensive population sampling covering the entire range to reconstruct the relationships among populations of the intricate C. versicolor s.l. Based on the results three distinct entities can be distinguished, circumscribed here on the subspecies level, with newly established combinations: C. versicolor subsp. versicolor, C. versicolor subsp. korabensis and C. versicolor subsp. tenorei. We propose a new taxonomic treatment of C. versicolor s.l. with description, distribution and habitat data for each of the subspecies and a key for their identification.