Uncovering the hidden diversity of the rosette‐forming Selaginella tamariscina group based on morphological and molecular data

Abstract

AbstractPlants of the Selaginella tamariscina group are common rosette‐forming species showing great morphological variability across their distribution range. Integrating chloroplast genome data and morphological evidence, we studied the species delimitation within this group. We newly sequenced the complete chloroplast genomes of 53 individuals representing almost the entire geographical distribution of this group. Our phylogenetic analyses yielded a consistent topology dividing the S. tamariscina group into five major clades, which is further supported by principal component analysis of 18 morphological characters taken from 80 herbarium specimens. Based on the results of molecular analyses and morphological studies combined with the distribution information, we finally recognize five species in the S. tamariscina group, including two new species (S. algida sp. nov., S. graniticola sp. nov.), and one new subspecies (S. pulvinata subsp. qinbashanica subsp. nov.).