(Re)discovery of four annual vascular plant species in dry grasslands in the Southwestern Alps (NW Italy)

Abstract

The Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) has developed a rigorous sampling methodology aimed at comprehensively documenting plant diversity across non-forest habitats in the Palaearctic realm. During the 18th EDGG Field Workshop devoted to the dry grasslands in the Southwestern Alps, three annual vascular plant species not observed in the Aosta Valley for over one century were rediscovered: Bupleurum baldense, Hypochaeris glabra, and Trifolium dubium. Moreover, the annual grass species Brachypodium distachyon was recorded for the first time from the Piedmont Region in the Susa valley. We provide here details on the identification and distribution of these four species, along with some environmental features of the discovery sites. Our findings do not only enrich the regional flora but also underscore the importance of historical records and accurate floristic exploration for biodiversity assessment.