Using molecular data and representative species coverage, we confirmed the monophyly of Cirsium sect. Eriolepis and, therefore, we propose to treat it as a separate genus (Lophiolepis). Besides, based on molecular and morphological evidence we segregate Cirsium italicum into the separate genus Epitrachys, sister to a large clade including Carduus, Cirsium s.l. and several allied genera. The name of a new hybrid genus (Lophiocirsium) is also published. Overall, 129 new combinations in Lophiolepis one in Epitrachys and one in Lophiocirsium are proposed.

A traditional karyomorphological approach was carried out in order to investigate the cytotaxonomic relationships among the species of the Santolina chamaecyparissus complex. All the 14 species included in this species complex were analysed for a total of 39 populations. Metaphase plates were obtained by squashing root tips stained with Feulgen technique. Measurable metaphase plates available in literature were also re-analysed. Chromosome number (2n), total haploid (monoploid) length (THL), and karyotype asymmetry indices (CV_CL and M_CA) were calculated for each of the 14 species. Chromosome data are provided for the first time for S. benthamiana and S. vedranensis, while a new hexaploid cytotype is reported for S. villosa. Five different ploidy levels are detected: diploid, triploid (a single individual of the otherwise diploid S. virens), tetraploid, pentaploid, and hexaploid. Our analyses reveal that polyploids are characterized by a more asymmetric karyotype with respect to diploids. The possible origin of polyploids, and in particular of the cultivated pentaploid S. chamaecyparissus, is briefly discussed.

The genus Santolina (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) includes 26 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin. Santolina is widely used as ornamental plant, in xerigardening, and in ethnobotany. The Santolina chamaecyparissus complex, including about half of the known species diversity, has been properly investigated on systematic and taxonomic grounds only recently, and a complete morphometric study is still missing. Here we provide a morphometric characterization and comparison of all the 14 species of this complex, using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Our results suggest that species of this complex can be distinguished using combinations of quantitative and qualitative character-states, mostly related to the leaf morphology. The analysis of S. villosa, a tetraploid/hexaploid Spanish endemic, showed that the two cytotypes cannot be safely identified based on morphology. Coupling this evidence with available phylogenetic information, we conclude that there is no reason to split the two cytotypes of S. villosa in two distinct taxa. An identification key for all the species of the complex is presented.