Recognition of the New World Disporum section Prosartes as Prosartes (Liliaceae) based on the sequence data of the rbcL gene

Abstract

SummaryShinwari, Z. K., Terauchi, R., Utech, F. H. & Kawano, S.: Recognition of the New World Disporum section Prosartes as Prosartes (Liliaceae) based on the sequence data of the rbcL gene. – Taxon 43: 353‐366.1994. – ISSN 0040‐0262.A review of the morphological and karyological data relevant to the problem of the generic distinctness of Disporum and Prosartes is presented. The chloroplast gene encoding rbcL for two species of each Disporum and Prosartes plus one of each Uvularia, Streptopus and Tricyrtis was sequenced. The data clearly separate two genera Prosartes (N. America) and Disporum (E. Asia) that were traditionally combined under the latter name. There is much more divergence between Disporum and Prosartes than between each pair of their component species, and considerably more than between Disporum and Uvularia or between Prosartes and Streptopus. The rbcL sequence data thus support the restoration of the genus Prosartes. A synonymic conspectus of Prosartes is given, and one new combination is proposed.