Heldreichia Boiss. (Brassicaceae) revisited: A morphological and molecular study

Abstract

The small Southwest Asian sree plant genus Heldreichia Boiss. (Brassicaceae) with its diversity centre in Anatolia. Is revised in a morphological and molecular (ITS sequence) monograph. Heldreichia taxa under study under appear to be monophyletic in the Bayesian tree; the tribal position position remains unclear. A re-evaluation of morphological characters resulted in a new taxonomic concept of Heldreichia. We suggest only one single polymorphic species, H. bupleurifolia, with four largely geovicarious sub-species, including a new subspecies. H. bupleurifolia subsp. polymorpha, for the westernmost populations of the Tarus range. Geographical areas with higher morphological and molecular diversity correspond to the generally accepted speciation and diversity centres of the Taurus range. Inter-pluvial migration events between isolted mountain ranges may have contributed to the morphological and genetic diversity within Heldreichia. Populations with non-entire leaf margins, traditionally named H. rotundifola should have evolved polytopically. Keys, a distribution map and illustrations are provided for all accepted subspectific taxa. Heldreichia bupleurifolia var. subtriloba and H. kotschyi are lectotypified.