Genetic and morphological assessment of Helichrysum Mill. from Tuscan Archipelago (Italy)

n the Mediterranean area, the species of the genus Helichrysum Mill. (Asteraceae) have very similar genetic traits despite they may show different morphological characteristics. A first genetic and morphological assessment on twelve populations of Helichrysum from Elba, Capraia and Giglio Islands, in the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy) was carried out. To determine their taxonomic identity, additional reference specimens belonging to the three Helichrysum species reported from the Tuscan Islands in the literature -H. italicum (Roth) G. Don subsp. italicum, H. litoreum Guss., and H. stoechas L.-, were also included in the assessments. Our results show that the Tuscan Archipelago populations have low levels of morphological and genetic variation. In particular, the variability was mainly observed at the intra-population level, as revealed by the coefficient of variation and AMOVA-Gst in the morphological and genetic analyses, respectively. Basing on our results, all examined populations from the Tuscan Archipelago seem fit in H. italicum subsp. italicum. However, we detect and discuss the existence of some intermediate specimens, mainly with H. litoreum, reflecting the complexity of Helichrysum’s taxonomy and highlighting the need for additional studies to fully understand the various patterns and the underlying evolutionary events that originated them.