Distribution and taxonomy of the Italian clovers belonging to Trifolium sect. Vesicastrum subsect. Mystillus (Fabaceae) Scoppola, Anna Lattanzi, Edda Bernardo, Liliana Italian Botanist 2016 2 7 27 0533D0C4-E4C9-5EF6-B4AB-43BDB4192D61 Savi, Fl. Pis. 2: 165. 1798 (as ' Trifolium vessiculosum') Magnoliopsida Fabaceae Trifolium CoL Animalia Trifolium vesiculosum Fabales 8 15 Tracheophyta species vesiculosum  Type ( 'lectotype'designated by Zohary and Heller 1984: 276): Clairieresde bois, Pisa, Juillet, P. Savi(M).  Description. Flowering heads large; fruiting calyx vesicular, turbinate, shining, netted-nerved, calyx teeth with base not ciliolate; corolla longer than calyx, seeds sub-globular, light brown ( Figures 2Aand 5).  Updated geographical distribution. Tuscany: +, Umbria: +, Lazio: +, Abruzzo: +, Campania: +, Apulia: 0 (new), Basilicata: 0 (new), Calabria: 0 (new), Sicily: 0 (new), Sardinia: +.  Notes. It is a Mediterranean species growing from southern to central Europe on fertile, well-drained soils. This clover is cultivated on a large scale for forage and has a good ability of self-sowing because of the high production of hard seeds ( Gillett and Taylor 2001, Coulot and Rabaute 2013). It was repeatedly cited by Italian botanists for central and southern Italy. However, its presence has probably been overestimated mainly in the past due either to the different taxonomical treatments of closely-related species or to confusion among them. In particular, we cannot confirm the species in Apulia, although it is indicated by Conti et al. (2005). Tenore (1835-1838)reports it for Gargano where it is not confirmed by Licht (2008). Additional data come from Beguinot(in Fenaroli 1970) but we were not able to find herbarium samples for the mentioned locality (Bosco Sfilzi). Concerning Basilicata, the indications from Balvano (Barbazita) and Muro Lucano (N. Terracciano), as well as the samples by Trotter (Gavioli 1848) could not be verified till now. Gibelli and Belli (1892)identify a Trifolium vesiculosum var. stenodictyonGibelli & Belli from Mt. Vulture, based on samples collected by Terracciano and Gussone, corresponding to intermediate forms (hybrids?) between  Trifolium vesiculosumand  Trifolium multistriatum, but  Trifolium vesiculosums.str. is not confirmed either from the literature or by recent gatherings. This species is considered as occurring in Calabria by Conti et al. (2005), based on Zohary and Heller (1984), who assigned a specimen of  Trifolium multistriatumfrom Fiumefreddo Bruzio (A. Fiori, 1899, FI!) to Trifolium vesiculosum var. rumelicum. Moreover, for the same region there are also some old reports ( Porta 1879, Macchiati 1884) dating back toa time when  Trifolium mutabileand  Trifolium multistriatum, both currently occurring in Calabria, were considered as varieties of  Trifolium vesiculosum. Thus, the latter species is here recorded as requiring confirmation. The presence of the species by Conti et al. (2005)in Sicily derives from Brullo (1982), who cites it in some phytosociological releves. It is also reported by Gussone (1843)and by Giardina et al. (2007), but questioned by La Rosa (2011)and by Giardina et al. (2007), who quote many references and state "...all localities of Southern Sicily are doubtful due perhaps to the limited identification made by the authors to the rank of species to  Trifolium mutabile( Trifolium vesiculosum Savi subsp. mutabilePortenschl.". To the latter species we attribute the Sicilian reports of  Trifolium vesiculosum. However, the sample in CAT (http://www.dipbot.unict.it/herbarium/foto/06/006028.jpg) from Cefalu, clearly refers to  Trifolium vesiculosumand confirms the presence of the species, at least in the past.  Collected specimens.  Italy. Tuscany: Manciano, Monti di Castro Loc. Campigliola, 42.526919°N 11.519618°E, 27 June 2015, A. Scoppola(UTV). Umbria: Castel Giorgio, lungo variante via Parma 42.712320°N 11.979294°E, 543 m, 25 June 2016, A. Nizzoliand A. Scoppola(UTV); Orvieto, Loc. Canonica, 42.700492°N 12.050351°E, 460 m, 25 June 2016, A. Nizzoliand A. Scoppola(UTV); Lazio: S. Martino al Cimino, Viterbo, Loc. Chiesa Nuova, 42.366113°N 12.120279°E, 517 m, 4 Jul 2016, A. Scoppola(UTV). Campania: Sessa Aurunca, Parco regionale Roccamonfina, lungo strada per S. Maria Valogno, 41.303914°N 13.894509°E, 60 m, 3 June 2016, A. Scoppolaand E. Lattanzi(UTV); ibidem, lungo SS430 nei pressi di Masseria S. Anna, 26 m, 41.309700°N 13.896533°E, 3 June 2016, A. Scoppola(UTV); ibidem, SS430 incrocio strada per S. Carlo, 41.319240°N 13.890250°E, 27 m, 3 June 2016, E. Lattanzi(RO); Masseria S. Anna, Parco di Roccamonfina, 41.311930°N 13.897133°E, 42 m, 5 June 2016, A. Nizzoli(UTV).