Sulla variabilità cromatica dei fiori nelle specie di Crocus L. delle Alpi sudorientali italiane

Abstract

Chromatic variability of tepals in species of Crocus L. of South-eastern Alps.—The anthocyanidins causing the color of tepals of some species of Crocus L. in the Italian South-eastern Alps were determined and characterized. The genus Crocus of this region is represented by four entities: C. napolitanus Mord. & Loisel., C. albiflorus Kit. ex Schult., C. reticulatus Stev. ex Adam. and C. weldenii Hoppe ex Baker. The distribution of anthocyanidins in the four entities confirms the existence of a systematic distance among the species belonging to Reticulati and the species belonging to Anulati. Two anthocyanidins, i.e. delphynidin and petunidin, which are always present in other entities, have not been found in C. weldenii; this species is characterized by the only presence of malvidine. The anthocyanidins assume therefore in this case a chemotaxonomic meaning.