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Smilax ligneoriparia sp. nov.: A link between herbaceous and woody Smilax (Smilacaceae) based on morphology, karyotype and molecular phylogenetic data
Author(s) -
Li Pan,
Qi Zhechen,
Chen Shichao,
Cameron Kenneth M.,
Fu Chengxin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.1002/tax.604013
Subject(s) - biology , herbarium , herbaceous plant , botany , phylogenetic tree , population , clade , sister group , zoology , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
A population of Smilax found in southeastern Yunnan was originally considered to be a local race of S. riparia with unusual woody, perennial stems, but its status as a distinct species is supported here by morphology, karyology, and molecular phylogenetics. This new species, Smilax ligneoriparia C.X. Fu & P. Li, shares several unique morphological characteristics with S. riparia , such as ovate herbaceous leaves and smooth stem lacking prickles, but its stem is "woody" and its chromosome number is 2 n = 32, unlike that of S. riparia (2 n = 30). Molecular phylogenetic analysis also confirms that it is distinct, but tentatively supports the position of this new taxon as sister to a clade of woody Asian species, which in turn is sister to the herbaceous, annually emergent Smilax clade. Herbarium specimens show that S. ligneoriparia has been collected in at least three locations in southeastern Yunnan and southern Zhejiang Provinces, but we suspect that the population from Xichou, occurring on limestone mountain slopes at 1550–1600 m, may be the only extant population.