Seed germination data of three Hieracium and one Pilosella (Asteraceae) from Sicily and southern Italy

This work reports the first seed germination data of three Hieracium and one Pilosella (Asteraceae) taxa from Sicily and southern Italy. The studied taxa are: Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. cilentanum, endemic to Campania, H. schmidtii subsp. nebrodense, endemic to Sicily, H. terraccianoi, endemic to Calabria and Pilosella hoppeana subsp. sicula, endemic to Sicily. The obtained results showed that the investigated taxa produce non-dormant seeds, with a high percentage of germination at all tested thermoperiods (15°C to 25°C and the alternating temperature of 25/15°C). Germination tests carried out in gibberellic acid (GA3) provided similar germination percentages. The data presented in this paper provides useful information for the conservation of these endemic taxa.