Abstract Detail

Floristics & Taxonomy

Ballard Jr, Harvey [1].

Delimiting taxa in three species complexes of Viola (Violaceae) in eastern North America.

Much of our lab group’s research reexamines polymorphic species complexes in eastern North American Viola to delimit more meaningful evolutionary taxa. We apply a modified version of the Unified Species Concept (species are separately evolved metapopulations, in some broadly defined phenotypic sense) to delimit species, using available evidence. Our results, based on macromorphological, micromorphological, ecological and reproductive evidence, and sometimes genetic data, have demonstrated substantially greater biological diversity than previous treatments suggest. We have recognized most of that diversity at species rank. Recently we have focused on three species complexes with potentially new taxa. The V. novae-angliae complex is strictly northeastern and includes two probably distinct species. The V. septentrionalis complex, northeastern and extending interruptedly into the southern Appalachian Mountains, includes one to three species. The V. nephrophylla complex is transcontinental (as is V. nephrophylla itself) and includes four species; one of them is widely distributed over the eastern U.S. while two others inhabit the Great Plains and adjacent areas of the Midwest. Our evidence urges recognition of up to nine species in these complexes where previous specialists have accepted two to four.

1 - Ohio University, Environmental & Plant Biology, 315 Porter Hall, Athens, OH, 45701, United States

Keywords:
Taxonomy 
Violaceae.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: F&T I006
Abstract ID:215
Candidate for Awards:None