An updated checklist of the vascular flora of Montagna di Torricchio State Nature Reserve (Marche, Italy)

This study aims to increase the floristic knowledge of the Marche Region by means of a floristic investigation conducted in the State Nature Reserve “Montagna di Torricchio” (Marche, Italy). The Reserve is located in the Central Apennines, it is extended for about 320 hectares and ranges from 820 to 1,491 m a.s.l. It is owned and managed as a strict reserve by the University of Camerino since 1970: all the anthropic activities (agriculture, semi‐extensive breeding and forest cutting) ceased about 50 years ago, except for a very small area, where mowing and cow grazing are still allowed (Ballelli, Francalancia 1982, 1987). The present floristic checklist is composed of 789 taxa at the species and subspecies level (352 Genera, 81 Families), 127 taxa more than the previous floristic surveys (1987). Two taxa were found to be new for Italy (Taraxacum calocarpum Sonck. and Taraxacum pulchrifolium Markl.) and 14 for the Marche Region, 46 were endemic to Italy while only 11 species were alien. With respect to the previous survey allowed (Ballelli, Francalancia 1982, 1987), we showed a stability in the life‐form spectrum, suggesting limited effects of dynamic processes related to climate and land use changes. In particular, the negligible number of alien species is probably related to the weak impact of the anthropic influence, mainly ceased 50 years ago. Additionally, the new species reported for Italy and for the Marche Region highlight the importance of the Reserve for species conservation in the context of Central Apennines.