Acanthostyles (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae): a revision with a multivariate analysis

GROSSI, M. A.; GUTIERREZ, D. G.; BERRUETA, P. C.; MARTÍNEZ, J. J.

AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2011 vol. 24 p. 87 - 103

1030-1887

The Neotropical genus Acanthostyles R.M.King & H.Rob. (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae) occurs in northern Argentina up to northern Patagonia, southern Brazil, Central and southern Bolivia, and Uruguay. Differing taxonomies have suggested that Anthostyles might include two species A. buniifolius(Hook. & Arn.) R.M.King & H.Rob. and A. saucechicoensis (Hieron.) R.M.King & H.Rob.], or even a single, highly variable, species. A detailed morphological study and a taxonomic revision of Acanthostyles were made. A principal component analysis of 73 specimens representing the morphological variability and geographic distribution of Acanthostyles were conducted to test the validity of these taxa. Results show that the morphological variation of A. saucechicoensis is included within the infraspecific variation of A. buniifolius. No clearly separated clusters are revealed in the principal component analysis. We therefore propose that A. saucechicoensis is a synonym of A. buniifolius, and thus Acanthostyles is composed of a single, highly variable, species throughout its range.