Based on a molecular phylogeny (using ITS, ETS and the rpl32-trnL, psbA-trnH and ndhF-rpl32 plastid spacer sequences) of all species and subspecies of the European genus Adenostyles currently recognised, and supported by the morphology of the leaf margin, we transfer two subspecies of A. alliariae to A. alpina and provide the new combinations A. alpina subsp. macrocephala and A. alpina subsp. pyrenaica. A revised key to the species and subspecies and a conspectus of the genus are presented.