Multivariate studies of Ipheion (Amaryllidaceae, Allioideae) and related genera

SASSONE A.B., GIUSSANI, L.M. & GUAGLIANONE E.R.

PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

SPRINGER WIEN

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2013 vol. 299 p. 1561 - 1575

0378-2697

Ipheion Raf., as recognized by Guaglianone (1972), is a small genus of the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae, tribe Gilliesieae. Since 1800, the species of Ipheion were treated under Beauverdia Herter, Brodiaea Sm., Milla Cav., Nothoscordum Kunth, Tristagma Poepp. or Triteleia Douglas ex Lindl. Nowadays, some species of Ipheion are treated as Tristagma and some other under Nothoscordum. In this work, we analyzed the morphological variation among species of Ipheion and related genera using a numerical taxonomic approach based on similarity, to investigate the intergeneric and infrageneric variation to further circumscribed groups. Based on 141 OTUS and 51 morphological characters, multivariate analyses were performed. Results showed Ipheion separated into two groups according to sectional treatment: Ipheion section Ipheion is morphologically more similar to the studied species of Tristagma, while Ipheion section Hirtellum can be clearly separated from Nothoscordum and Tristagma; species of Nothoscordum grouped with Zoellnerallium andinum. These a priori groupings were tested by Discriminant and univariate analyses, and diagnostic characters were selected to differentiate groups. Previous taxonomic treatments were discussed and results were also evaluated with additional kariological, and biogegraphical data.