The identity and geographical distribution of Jacobaea vulgaris subsp. gotlandica, supposedly endemic to Gotland and Öland (Sweden)—the importance of multiple intraspecific samples

Abstract

AbstractThe identity of Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn. subsp. gotlandica (Neum.) B. Nord., hitherto considered an endemic to the Swedish islands Öland and Gotland, was investigated using nrITS and trnT­trnL intergenic spacer sequences and a broad sample of species and accessions particularly of J. vulgaris. We found that J. vulgaris subsp. gotlandica is a distinct evolutionary lineage more widespread in Europe than previously thought and may be a southeastern European steppe floristic element with outliers on the large Baltic islands. Our entirely unexpected findings underline the need of multiple intraspecific sampling in species­level phylogenetic studies.