Taxonomic Reevaluation of the Polylepis sericea Complex (Rosaceae), with the Description of a New Species

The taxonomically difficult genus Polylepis (Rosaceae) contains several problematic species complexes, including one around P. sericea. We here reevaluate species boundaries in this complex based on morphological characters and climatic niches. We recognize five species within the P. sericea complex...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Boza Espinoza, Tatiana Erika, Quispe-Melgar, Harold R., Kessler, Michael
Format: article
Publication Date:2019
Country:Perú
Institution:Universidad Continental
Repository:CONTINENTAL-Institucional
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.continental.edu.pe:20.500.12394/7553
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1600/036364419X15562052252225
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12394/7553
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Andes
morphology
Rosaceae
Description
Summary:The taxonomically difficult genus Polylepis (Rosaceae) contains several problematic species complexes, including one around P. sericea. We here reevaluate species boundaries in this complex based on morphological characters and climatic niches. We recognize five species within the P. sericea complex, based primarily on leaf characters: P. albicans (northwestern Peru), P. argentea (central Peru) described here, P. canoi (southeastern Peru to central Bolivia), P. ochreata (Ecuador to southernmost Colombia), and P. sericea (Venezuela to central Colombia). We provide full synonymy, diagnostic notes, lists of selected specimens examined, and a key to the species of the complex.