Mediterranean Subspecies versus Californian Varieties: An Example from Acmispon (Leguminosae, Loteae)

Dmitry D Sokoloff,Zoya V Akulova-Barlow,Rafaël Govaerts

doi:10.3390/taxonomy1030016

Dmitry D Sokoloff, Zoya V Akulova-Barlow + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy1030016

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Abstract

The tribe Loteae of the family Leguminosae has major centers of diversity in the Mediterranean Region and California. It is used here to illustrate different traditions of taxonomic interpretation of infraspecific variation among researchers in different continents. Recent accounts of European and Mediterranean taxa commonly make an emphasis on recognizing subspecies. In contrast, accounts of North American Loteae recognize all infraspecific taxa as varieties. Harmonization of taxonomic concepts across continents is essential for a more accurate representation of data in global biodiversity databases. It is reasonable to use the rank of subspecies for geographically defined infraspecific units with localized zones of intergradation. Such subspecies may be at least partially compatible across continents and taxonomic groups. In the present paper, we discuss taxa traditionally included in or associated with Acmispon glaber (Vogel) Brouillet (=Syrmatium glabrum Vogel) and demonstrate a need for recognizing three species, of which one has three geographically defined subspecies. Required nomenclatural combinations are proposed. It is proposed that subspecies rather than varieties should be recognized in a number of other species of North American Loteae (and other plant groups). Inland subspecies of Acmispon glaber and A. maritimus offer an opportunity for comparative analysis in an eco-evo-devo framework.

Highlights

North American species formerly classified in Lotus [1,2,3] have a center of diversity in California
Acronyms of Herbaria are indicated according to Index herbarium [29]. Those taxonomists of the 20th century who interpreted all North American Loteae as members of the genus Lotus classified the species currently known as Acmispon glaber under the name Lotus scoparius (Torr. & A.Gray) Ottley (=Hosackia scoparia Torr. & A.Gray), because there is an earlier Old World name Lotus glaber Miller
Types of Syrmatium glabrum and Hosackia scoparia were collected at the coast of mainland California

Summary

Introduction

North American species formerly classified in Lotus [1,2,3] have a center of diversity in California. Numerous interspecific taxa and “microspecies” have been described during the past two centuries from various countries. Both European and American botanists once used a diversity of taxonomic ranks to name infraspecific taxa. Accounts of North American Loteae recognize all infraspecific taxa as varieties. In California, Brouillet [5,6] accepted in total 30 species of Loteae (in Acmispon and Hosackia), with as many as 14 species possessing recognized varieties. Out of 78 species of Loteae accepted in Flora Iberica, only seven have recognized subspecies [10]

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