Taxonomy of the Rubus gothicus group in south-eastern central Europe

Rubus ser. Subthyrsoidei is a particularly intricate group within the sect. Corylifolii due to its phenologically and ecologically driven plasticity variability. In recent study we investigated narrower-leaved biotypes of series in south-eastern central Europe that represent distinct entity often called “Rubus gothicus group”. We recognized four stable (apomictic species) occurring area: (1) north-central European R. s. str., which was rarely found northern Bohemia; (2) biotype from Silesia shown be conspecific with subgothicus, here lectotypified, formerly overlooked species; (3) new species southern part Czech Republic Austria, lobifolius, included by earlier authors str.; (4) another species, scarbantinus, common eastern foothills Alps. Flow cytometric measurements confirmed all circumscribed are tetraploid. provided taxonomic nomenclatural discussion, revised morphological description, ecological characteristics distribution maps for studied.