Abstract
Disappearance of diagnostic morphological characters due to hybridization is considered to be one of the causes of the complex taxonomy of the species-rich (ca. 2000 described species) genus Carex (Cyperaceae). Carex furva s.l. belongs to section Glareosae. It is an endemic species from the high mountains of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Previous studies suggested the existence of two different, cryptic taxa within C. furva s.l. Intermediate morphologies found in the southern Iberian Peninsula precluded the description of a new taxa. We aimed to determine whether C. furva s.l. should be split into two different species based on the combination of morphological and molecular data. We sampled ten populations across its full range and performed a morphological study based on measurements on herbarium specimens and silica-dried inflorescences. Both morphological and phylogenetic data support the existence of two different species within C. furva s.l. Nevertheless, intermediate morphologies and sterile specimens were found in one of the southern populations (Sierra Nevada) of C. furva s.l., suggesting the presence of hybrid populations in areas where both supposed species coexist. Hybridization between these two putative species has blurred morphological and genetic limits among them in this hybrid zone. We have proved the utility of combining molecular and morphological data to discover a new cryptic species in a scenario of hybridization. We now recognize a new species, C. lucennoiberica, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Sierra Nevada, Central system and Cantabrian Mountains). On the other hand, C. furva s.s. is distributed only in Sierra Nevada, where it may be threatened by hybridization with C. lucennoiberica. The restricted distribution of both species and their specific habitat requirements are the main limiting factors for their conservation.
Highlights
Around 2000 species have been recognized in the genus Carex L. (Cyperaceae; [1,2,3]) which is one of the largest genera among the angiosperms as the result of a relatively fast radiation mainly in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere [4,5]
We aimed to determine whether C. furva s.l. should be split into two different species based on the combination of morphological and molecular data
We have proved the utility of combining molecular and morphological data to discover a new cryptic species in a scenario of hybridization
Summary
Around 2000 species have been recognized in the genus Carex L. (Cyperaceae; [1,2,3]) which is one of the largest genera among the angiosperms as the result of a relatively fast radiation mainly in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere [4,5]. Around 2000 species have been recognized in the genus Carex L. Cryptic Species Due to Hybridization whole has derived in taxonomic rearrangements based on phylogenetic studies [2]. [8,9,10]), the restricted geographic coverage of the studies, mostly focused on Europe and North America, and the historical non-natural classifications of the genus, are some of the causes that have hampered an extensive revision of the genus [11]. Hybridization in Carex has been proposed to limit taxonomic delimitation of species [12,13,14]. Hybridization and/or introgression cause reticulate evolution [18] which makes the establishment of limits among species difficult
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