Open AccessMultivariate morphometric analysis and species delimitation in the endemic N ew C aledonian genus S torthocalyx ( S apindaceae)
Author(s) -
Pierre AnneHélène,
Le Moguédec Gilles,
Lowry Porter P.,
Munzinger Jérôme
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
botanical journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1095-8339
pISSN - 0024-4074
DOI - 10.1111/boj.12199
Subject(s) - herbarium , sapindaceae , genus , biology , zoology , type (biology) , endemism , type species , ecology
Storthocalyx is one of four genera of S apindaceae endemic to N ew C aledonia. The most recent taxonomic revision is > 60 years old and is based on material that represents < 10% of the collections available today. Four species are currently recognized: S torthocalyx chryseus , S torthocalyx leioneurus , S torthocalyx pancheri , and S torthocalyx sordidus , although a significant number of specimens cannot be assigned to any of them. One hundred and ninety‐eight herbarium specimens were examined for an ascendant hierarchical classification and a principal coordinates analysis based on 19 morphological characters regarded as diagnostic at the species level (including those used in the original revision). The analyses revealed five morphologically well delimited groups that potentially correspond to species‐level units. The resulting entities were then compared with nomenclatural types, which showed that four of them corresponded to the four currently recognized species and suggested that the fifth represents a well delimited, undescribed species. The analysis also showed that seven type specimens represent mixed gatherings comprising elements referable to two distinct species. The findings of the present study provide a basis for undertaking a taxonomic revision of S torthocalyx , including the description of the new species. © 2014 T he L innean S ociety of L ondon, B otanical J ournal of the L innean S ociety , 2014, 176 , 127–146.