Abstract
The morphologically overlapping and frequently syntopic species ofSpiranthes(Orchidaceae) found in the Sierra Nevada of California and Cascade Range of Oregon—S.porrifolia,S.romanzoffiana, andS.stellata—have long been a source of taxonomic confusion. Much of this confusion is attributed to hypothesized hybridization between species, and a lack of agreement concerning the distinctiveness ofS.stellatafromS.romanzoffiana. We used molecular phylogenetics incorporating low‐copy nuclear, nuclear ribosomal, and chloroplast DNA sources, in addition to morphological data, to clarify the evolutionary relationships of this complex. Our results indicate that contrary to long‐held hypotheses, hybridization betweenS.porrifoliaandS.romanzoffianaappears to be rare or absent. Furthermore, a realignment of taxon status is necessary forS.stellatasubsp.stellataandS.stellatasubsp.perexilis, with subsp.perexiliselevated to full non‐hybrid species rank asS. perexiliscomb. & stat. nov., and subsp.stellatachanged toS. ×stellata, indicating its likely recurrent allopolyploid origin between the sister speciesS.perexilisandS.romanzoffiana. We also describeS. ×sierraenothosp. nov., representing rare allopolyploid hybrids betweenS.perexilisandS.porrifolia, and provide the first pollinator records forS.perexilisandS. ×stellata.
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