Adonis apennina L.

Kubentayev, Serik, Baasanmunkh, Shukherdorj, Alibekov, Daniyar, Son, Dong Chan, Tsegmed, Zagarjav, Myrzagaliyeva, Anar, Zhumagul, Moldir, Rustemova, Assel, Mukhtubayeva, Saule, Kubentayeva, Balsulu & Choi, Hyeok Jae, 2025, A taxonomic revision of Adonis (Ranunculaceae) in Kazakhstan, Italian Botanist 20, pp. 45-76 : 45-76

Adonis apennina L. , Sp. Pl. 1: 548 (1753)

Fig. 3

≡ Adonanthe apennina (L.) Sennikov in Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 31: 83 (1998)

≡ Chrysocyathus apenninus (L.) Sennikov in Fl. Vostochnoĭ Evropy 10: 179 (2001)

Type.

Sweden. [ Adonis ] “ 3. apeninna. H [ortus] U [psalensis] ”, cult. Linnaeus 714.5 ( lectotype LINN). [designated by Wang 1994 b].

General distribution.

China ( Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang), Kazakhstan (Altai), Mongolia, Russia ( Altai, Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, East European Russia, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, North European Russia, Tuva, West Siberia, Yakutia) ( POWO 2025).

Distribution in Kazakhstan.

Altai, Tarbagatai.

Habitat and ecology.

This species grows in open forests, among shrubs, along forest edges, and in dry meadows at altitudes of 700–1100 metres above sea level.

Conservation status.

The estimated EOO is 62,605 km 2 and estimated AOO is 84 km 2. Therefore, the conservation status of A. apennina has been assessed vulnerable [VU B 2 a (ii)]. Therefore, we consider it necessary to include this species in the next edition of the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan.

Phenology.

Flowering in May – June; fruiting in June – July.

Chromosome number.

2 n = 16 (Schlangena 1976; Schrager and Malakhova 1978) and 24 ( Mitrenina et al. 2021).

Notes.

Adonis apennina was originally described by Linnaeus (1753) based on specimens from Siberia. He distinguished it from A. vernalis based on several characteristics such as stem branching in the upper part, longer pedicels, glabrous sepals, obovate petals, and a summerflowering period. The taxonomic status of A. sibirica (Patrin ex DC.) Ledeb. has long been debated and was initially described as A. vernalis var. sibirica Patrin ex DC. ( De Candolle 1818) . However, although it was later elevated to species, variety, and subspecies ranks ( Ledebour 1824, 1830; Korzhinsky 1892), it is currently treatedas synonymous with A. apennina owing to their overlapping morphological characteristics ( Wang 1994 b; Son 2015). Chrtěk and Slavíková (1978) proposed the separation of this group under the genus Adonanthe Spach , but later works, including Sennikov (1998), favored maintaining A. apennina within Adonis . Phylogenetic data from recent years confirmed that A. apennina belongs to Adonis , specifically to the subgenus Adonanthe ( Ling et al. 2025) . This species is distributed across northeastern European Russia, Siberia, the Russian Far East, Central Asia, Mongolia, and China ( Poschkurlat 2000). The occurrence of this species in the Apennines is most likely due to a misreading of Menzelius’ notes by Linnaeus ( Sennikov 1998). According to Wang (1994 a), A. apennina is classified under the subg. Adonanthe sect. Adonanthe W. T. Wang ser. Apenninae Bobr.

Specimens examined.

Altai: Near the village of Katon-Karagay , Sarymsakty Ridge, Ushkungey Tract, 13 Aug 1972, Pimenov et al. 380 ( MW 0112971 !) ; near the village of Altayskaya [ Katon-Karagay], 15 Aug 1932, Voronov 701 ( MW 0112972 !) ; same location, 27 Jul 1899, Ladygin, s. n. ( LE!) ; near the village of Arshaty , Tautekeli River Valley, 1 Jun 2021, Bolbotov s. n. ( ALTB!) ; Bukhtarma River Valley, 2 km upstream from the mouth of the Sarygul-Bulak River, 5 th bridge , 18 Jun 2020, Bolbotov s. n. ( ALTB!) ; right bank of the Bukhtarma River Valley , Kainar Mountains, 4 Jun 1999, Kudabaeva s. n. ( AA!) ; left bank of the Bukhtarma River, along the road to Rakhmanovskie Klyuchi , 30 May 1999, Kudabaeva s. n. ( AA!) ; Southern Altai Ridge, left bank of the Kara-Kaba River , 3 Jul 1987, Ivashchenko s. n. ( AA!) ; Southern Altai Ridge, upper reaches of the Kara-Kaba River , 30 Jun 1987, Isaev s. n. ( AA!) ; Southern Altai Ridge , 20 Aug 1986, Ivashchenko s. n. ( AA!) ; Southern Altai Ridge, 3 km east of the Pronikha River , 27 Jul 1987, Ivashchenko and Isaev s. n. ( AA!) ; Sarymsakty Ridge, Tekeli River Valley , 2 Aug 1985, Bialieva s. n. ( AA!) ; Southern Altai, Chindagatuy Rivers , 28 Jul 1986, Ivashchenko s. n. ( AA!) ; Western Altai, northwest of Ridder, near Mount Golukha , 31 Jul 1947, Polyakov s. n. ( AA!) ; near Ridder , Krestovaya Mountains, 26 Jun 1937, Kuznetsov s. n. ( AA!) ; Altai, Bukhtarma Basin, Uryl River near the village of Uryl , Bakanaz [Bakanas] Tract, 1 Jun 1955, Razlivalov s. n. ( AA!) ; Altai, Sarymsakty Mountains, Dzholar Rivers , 15 Jun 1910, Reznichenko 144 ( LE!) ; Altai Mountains, Dzholar River Valley, near Sarymsakty Mountain , 13 Jun 1910, Reznichenko s. n. 75 ( LE!) . Tarbagatai: Near the village of Tarbagatai, Manrak Ridge, Tuyuk Gorge , 26 May 1981, Rakityanskaya s. n. ( AA!) ; Tarbagatai Ridge , 15 Jul 1948, Stepanova s. n. ( AA!) ; Tarbagatai Ridge, northern slope 5 km north of Khabar-Asu Pass , 15 Aug 1948, Stepanova s. n. ( AA!) ; Tarbagatai Ridge near Tas-Beit-Kuduk , 12 Jul 1914, Shishkin and Genina s. n. ( LE!) .

Figures

Figure 3. Adonis apennina in Kazakhstan A general habit B, C flowers, front view D flower, dorsal view E, F leaves G aggregate fruit. (Photos by S. Baasanmunkh)