Species distinction within Campanula sect. Heterophylla in the SW Alps: molecular, morphological and chemotaxonomic evidences.

In this study we attempted to solve species distinction among some endemic and widespread representatives of Campanula sect. Heterophylla living in the SW Alps. Molecular and morphological investigations were congruent in detecting some taxa like C. cochleariifolia, C. sabatia, C. bertolae, C. fritschii and partially C. macrorhiza. Otherwise C. stenocodon and C. rhomboidalis were detected by morphology only. Finally, C. rotundifolia and C. scheuchzeri are never detectable with all the analyses applied. The species of the sect. Heterophylla living in the same geographical area show a high likelihood of genetic exchanges. They are recognized sometimes only on the base of small morphological details and according to their ecology. Chemotaxonomic investigations are only partially useful for species distinction. The combination of different analyses might constitute a reliable tool for the taxonomy of most of the species belonging to the sect. Heterophylla.