A multivariate analysis of Hyospathe (Palmae)

• Published in: American journal of botany Vol. 91; no. 6; pp. 953 - 965
• Main Author: Henderson, Andrew J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Botanical Soc America 01-06-2004; Botanical Society of America; Botanical Society of America, Inc
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Biological taxonomies; Botany; Bracts; Calyx; Central America; Flowers & plants; Hair; Holotypes; Hyospathe; multivariate statistics; Palmae; Phylogenetics; Plant populations; Quantitative genetics; Quantitative traits; Scars; South America; species delimitation; species testing; Specimens; Systematics; Topographical elevation
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197
• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.91.6.953

Previous systematic treatments of the neotropical palm genus Hyospathe have recognized from two to 18 species. An explicit, quantitative, repeatable sequence of operations for delimiting and testing groups of specimens and applying species concepts is carried out. Multivariate statistical analysis of morphological data is used to delimit and test groups of specimens. Cluster analysis is used to distinguish between characters and traits. Analysis of qualitative and quantitative characters reveals six groups of specimens, and the Phylogenetic Species Concept is applied to these groups. Two species, H. peruviana Henderson and H. frontinensis Henderson, are described as new. One of the specimen groups is large and widespread, and six geographically separate subgroups can be recognized within it. These subgroups can be distinguished by one or more significantly different quantitative characters. A Phylogenetic Subspecies Concept is applied to these subgroups. Three subspecies, H. elegans subsp. costaricensis Henderson, H. elegans subsp. sanblasensis Henderson, and H. elegans subsp. tacarcunensis Henderson are described as new, and two new combinations are made: H. elegans subsp. sodiroi (Dammer ex Burret) Henderson and H. elegans subsp. concinna (H. E. Moore) Henderson. One subspecies occurring in the Amazon region is complex morphologically and is not resolved by the methods used here.