The genus Deschampsia and the epithet " alpina".

Jorge O Chiapella,Zhi-Qing Xue,Josef Greimler

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.181.69546

Abstract

The epithet “alpina” has been recurrently used in the genus Deschampsia to name plants located in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, as a species (Deschampsiaalpina (L.) Roem. & Schult.), but also in infraspecific categories (Deschampsiacespitosasubsp.alpina Tzvel. and Deschampsiacespitosavar.alpina Schur.). The morphological and molecular available evidence suggests the existence of a single species, Deschampsiacespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., in which individuals belonging to the same morphological gradient have received different names in different taxonomic categories throughout its wide distribution range. An evaluation of the available names indicates that all uses of the epithet “alpina” are illegitimate. A new combination is proposed at the infraspecific level as Deschampsiacespitosasubsp.neoalpina Chiapella, Xue & Greimler.

Highlights

The epithet “alpina” has been recurrently used in the genus Deschampsia to name plants located in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, as a species (Deschampsia alpina (L.) Roem. & Schult.), and in infraspecific categories (Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. alpina Tzvel. and Deschampsia cespitosa var. alpina Schur.)
A new combination is proposed at the infraspecific level as Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. neoalpina Chiapella, Xue & Greimler
The available information for Deschampsia cespitosa comprises a set of morphological data for Central Europe (Chiapella 2000) and morphological and molecular data for North America (Chiapella et al 2011)

Summary

Introduction

Abstract The epithet “alpina” has been recurrently used in the genus Deschampsia to name plants located in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, as a species (Deschampsia alpina (L.) Roem. The morphological and molecular available evidence suggests the existence of a single species, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P.

Results

Conclusion