Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Goates, Emily D. [1], Brabazon, Holly [1], Johnson, Robert L. [1], Gowen, David [2], JOHNSON , LEIGH A [1].

More than meets the eye: hidden diversity in Navarretia section Masonia..

Navarretia section Masonia sensu A. Day circumscribes just four species characterized by being glandular, having coriaceous capsules that dehisce from the apex, and a short or narrow outer bract axis with linear lobes.  Although section Masonia has been shown to be non-monophyletic, species limits in this group have been historically uncontroversial. All were named by Greene is 1887, with two additional taxa newly described as varieties in 1913 and 1943.  Field, herbarium, and laboratory work indicate that greater species richness exists among these taxa than previously recognized. Navarretia divaricata, for example, is composed of two small flowered, morphologically similar subspecies. Field and herbarium studies show that the subspecies co-occur in many locations. Although often collected as part of the same gathering (i.e., with one or the other subspecies overlooked), the two subspecies can be distinguished on herbarium sheets and evidence of hybridization is lacking. DNA sequence data confirm these taxa are distinct, even in areas of syntopy, reciprocally monophyletic, and not sister taxa. Consequently, Navarretia divaricata ssp. vividior should be elevated to species rank. Two additional entities, infrequently encountered and similarly small flowered, have been collected and determined originally on herbarium sheets as also belonging to N. divaricata.  Both are sympatric with N. divaricata and fieldwork has shown one of these to be syntopic with both N. divaricata ssp. divaricata and N. divaricata ssp. vividior in at least one location.  Morphometric and molecular data, presented here distinguish these entities as distinct species. Combined, morphological and molecular data disentangle this cryptic species complex and provide support for recognizing three new species.

1 - Brigham Young University, Biology, 401 Widb, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
2 - 111 Roble Rd, Oakland, CA, 94618

Keywords:
Cryptic species
taxonomy
Polemoniaceae
morphometrics.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Eyrie/Boise Centre
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2014
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY032
Abstract ID:486
Candidate for Awards:None