Research Interests

Taxonomy and chorology of central European vascular plants

At the very beginning my botanical activities were already linked to floristics and taxonomy of vascular plants, and particularly mountain plants (orophytes). Earlier studies concerned species or species groups of the genera Draba, Moehringia, Oxytropis, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, Tofieldia, and included chromosome investigations (in Campanula, Galeobdolon). It was consistent that, in my later botanical career in Austria, I undertook a comparative study of the evolution of orophytes in space and time, exemplified (on advice of F. Ehrendorfer) by alpine species of Artemisia. Based on a thorough taxonomic revision by means of karyology, morphology, ecology and biogeography, it aimed to elucidate the phylogenetical structure of this species group in space and time, in comparison with other, chorologically similar orophytic affinities.

I have always been attracted by floristically or taxonomically critical groups (such as Anthyllis, Arum, Erigeron, Calamintha, Scleranthus, Thymus, Thesium), and also by apomictic affinities. Ample materials (especially from the Alps) have been collected, and is under study (partly by other taxonomists: Alchemilla, Hieracium, Taraxacum), or have lead already to published reports as in Sorbus. The taxonomic analysis the group of Ranunculus auricomus achieved in co-operation with E. Hörandl was succeeded by a molecular study of the R. cassubicus complex. Other molecular based studies concerned the taxonomy and phylogeny of the Leontodon affinity. My taxonomic interest and involvement since 1971 in the mapping projects for Austria found its expression in the elaboration of the 2nd edition of F. Ehrendorfer's Liste der Gefäßpflanzen Mitteleuropas (1973). It will be succeded by an enlarged, annotated checklist of the vascular flora of Central Europe now under work.

Flora and Vegetation of the Ionian Islands (Greece): Flora Ionica

Regular student excursions into Mediterranean countries, particularly to the Ionian Islands since 1985, gave rise to increasing field work also outside the guided field courses, which activities concentrated finally in a project that aims to a complete and detailed survey of the islands' flora (vascular plants) by means of our “mapping experience”. In addition to that floristic work, also the main vegetation types were studied (in collaboration with L. Mucina). A critical flora catalogue as well as distribution maps have recently gone online ⇗.

Selected Publications

(1) Eine neue Moehringien-Sippe aus den Südalpen. [with H. Merxmüller] — Phyton (Horn) 7: 1–7 (1957).

(5) Die europäischen Sippen von Oxytropis Sectio Oxytropis. [with H. Merxmüller] — Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 4: 199–275 (1961).

(11) Draba aspera, eine für die Karawanken neue Art. — Phyton (Horn) 14: 313–315 (1972).

(12) Liste der Gefäßpflanzen Mitteleuropas. [Elaboration of the 2nd, enlarged edition, in co-operation with H. Niklfeld; editor: F. Ehrendorfer] — Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag, XII + 318 pp. (1973).

(13) Neue Namen und kritische Bemerkungen zur Gefäßpflanzenflora Mitteleuropas. [with F. Ehrendorfer & M. Fischer] — Österr. Bot. Z. 122: 257–273 (1974).

(14) Erigeron acris subsp. macrophyllus, eine verkannte Sippe des Alpen–Ostrandes. — Phyton (Horn) 16: 75–79 (1974).

(21) Notulae nomenclaturales 1–18 (Zur Nomenklatur einiger Arten der mitteleuropäischen Flora). — Phyton (Horn) 17: 31–50 (1975).

(23) Artemisia L. [spp. 34–40]. — pp. 183–184 In: T. G. Tutin et al. (Eds.): Flora Europaea, vol. 4: Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae); Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, XXXIV+505 pp., 5 maps (1976).

(26) Systematik und Evolution einer alten, dysploid-polyploiden Oreophyten–Gruppe: Artemisia mutellina und ihre Verwandten (Asteraceae: Anthemideae). — Wien: Diss. Univ. Wien, 422 pp. (1979).

(28) Een nieuwe naam voor Arenaria serpyllifolia L. var. macrocarpa Lloyd. [with J. Mennema] — Gorteria 11: 281–282 (1983).

(38) Populationsstudien an Sippen von Saxifraga sect. Porphyrion (Saxifragaceae) in den Alpen: I. Hybriden von S. biflora und S. oppositifolia. [with E. Hörandl] — Phyton (Horn) 34: 143–167 (1994).

(39) Die Bearbeitung der Ranunculus auricomus–Gruppe für die Flora von Österreich — ein Werkstattbericht. [with E. Hörandl] — Fl. Austr. Novit. 2: 12–27 (1995).

(40) Draba aizoides subsp. beckeri (Brassicaceae), ein Endemit der östlichsten Alpen und Kleinen Karpaten. [with E. Hörandl] — Phyton (Horn) 35: 83–101 (1995).

(42) Die Sorbus latifolia–Gruppe im östlichen Österreich. [with G. Jakubowsky] — Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 98B[Suppl.]: 369–381 (1997).

(43) Zur Kenntnis des Ranunculus auricomus–Komplexes in Österreich: Die Arten der R. phragmiteti– und R. indecorus–Gruppe. [with E. Hörandl] — Phyton (Horn) 37: 263–320 (1998).

(44) Der Ranunculus auricomus–Komplex in Österreich. 1. Methodik; Gruppierung der mitteleuropäischen Sippen. [with E. Hörandl] — Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 120: 1–44 (1998).

(45) Der Ranunculus auricomus–Komplex in Österreich. 2. Die R. cassubicus–, R. monophyllus– und R. fallax–Sammelgruppe. [with E. Hörandl] — Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 120: 545–598 (1998).

(46) Der Ranunculus auricomus–Komplex in Österreich. 3. Die Arten der R. latisectus–, R. puberulus–, R. stricticaulis– und R. argoviensis–Gruppe (R. auricomus–Sammelgruppe). [with E. Hörandl] — Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 121: 99–138 (1999).

(50) Asperula naufraga (Rubiaceae), a new species from Zakinthos (Ionian Islands, Greece), with notes on its ecology, karyology and relationships. (Materials towards a Flora Ionica, 1). [with F. Ehrendorfer] — Bot. Chron. 13: 61–70. (2000).

(58) Molecular phylogenetics of the genus Leontodon (Asteraceae, Lactuceae). [with R. Samuel et al.] — p. 48 in Systematics. Forth Biennial Conderence of the Systematics Association. Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, 18–22 August 2003. Programme and Abstracts, 75 pp. (2003).

(59) Katalog der Gefäßpflanzen Südtirols. [with Th. Wilhalm & H. Niklfeld] (Veröffentlichungen des Naturmuseums Südtirol 3) – Wien: Folio Verlag, 215 pp. (2006).

(59a) Pardoglossum cheirifolium [new for Greece]. In: W. Greuter & T. Raus (Eds.): Med-Checklist Notulae 23. — Willdenowia 35: 55 pp.

(59b) Euphorbia pinea [new for Greece]. In: W. Greuter & T. Raus (Eds.): Med-Checklist Notulae 23. [with A. Strid] — Willdenowia 35: 59 pp.

(59c) Trifolium cinctum [new for Greece]. In: W. Greuter & T. Raus (Eds.): Med-Checklist Notulae 23. — Willdenowia 35: 59 pp.

(59d) Rhamnus orbiculata [new for Greece]. In: W. Greuter & T. Raus (Eds.): Med-Checklist Notulae 23. [with A. Strid] — Willdenowia 35: 60-61.

(60) Molecular phylogenetics reveals Leontodon (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) to be diphyletic. [with R. Samuel, T. F. Stuessy, C. F. Ruas, H.-W. Lack, K. Tremetsberger, S. Talavera, B. Hermanowski & F. Ehrendorfer] – Amer. J. Bot. 93: 1193–1205 (2006)

(62) Thymelaea gussonei [new for Greece]. In: W. Greuter & Th. Raus (Eds.): Med-Checklist Notulae, 24. [with K. Tan] – Willdenowia 36: 726 (2006).

(63) Notulae nomenclaturales 19–25 (Neue Namen und Kombinationen zur Flora Südtirols). — Phyton (Horn) 46: 71–81 (2006).

(65) Hieracia Benziana (Ein kommentierter Katalog der auf R. von Benz zurückgehenden Hieracium-Taxa). [with G. Gottschlich] — Phyton (Horn) 48: 239–282 (2008).

(66) Typifications of Kerner names 1–7. [with F. Ehrendorfer, J. Greimler, M. Kropf, J. Saukel] — Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 110B: 265–272 (2009).

(69) Notulae nomenclaturales 29–40 (Zur Nomenklatur von Gefäßpflanzen Österreichs). — Phyton (Horn) 49: 77–92 (2009).

(71) Proposal to conserve the name Convallaria latifolia Jacq. (Polygonatum latifolium) (Ruscaceae, Liliaceae s. l.) against C. latifolia Mill. [with F. Conti, G. Király, J. Kirschner, K. Marhold, Niketić M., T. Nikolić, A. Petrova, K. Tan & T. Wraber] – Taxon 60: 595–596 (2011).

(72) Notulae nomenclaturales 41–45 (Neue Namen bei Cruciata und Kali sowie einige kleinere Korrekturen). –Phyton (Horn) 51: 95–102: (2011).

(74) A note on Pteris vittata L. (Pteridaceae) in Montenegro. – Acta Bot. Croat. 71: 371–374 (2012).

(79) The vascular plants of Kálamos (Ionian Islands, Greece): a catalogue. (Materials towards a Flora Ionica). [with  G. M. Schneeweiss, P. Schönswetter, M. Staudinger & C. Wallinger]. – Phyton (Horn) 54: 161–196 (2014).

(82) Taxonomy and nomenclature of the polymorphic European high mountain species Androsace vitaliana (L.) Lapeyr. (Primulaceae). [with Ch. J. Dixon, P. Schönswetter & G. M. Schneeweiss] – Phytokeys 75: 93–106 (2016)