The systematics of the genus Garuleum cass. (Asteraceae)

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Date
2013
Authors
Van Zyl, Juanita
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The aim of this study is to provide a taxonomic revision and molecular phylogenetic analysis of the eight Garuleum Cass. (Asteraceae) species of southern Africa. The taxonomic revision resulted in the construction of an identification key to the species, a revision of all type literature and nomenclature, clarification and designation of type specimens, compilation of morphological and micromorphological descriptions, distribution maps and ecological data for all Garuleum species. The molecular phylogenetic investigation resulted in the first complete phylogeny for the genus Garuleum, based on the nuclear gene region ITS and the chloroplast intergenic spacers trnT–trnF and psbA–trnH. All available type specimens related to Garuleum in southern Africa were studied. Where holotype specimens could not be located; lectotypes were designated from available isotypes or syntypes. In cases where only syntypes had been given by authors of species names, lectotypes were designated. Additional herbarium specimens on loan from several South African and European herbaria were investigated and additional material was collected in the field. These specimens were used to compile morphological descriptions and distribution maps. Micromorphological investigation of leaf surfaces, fruit, flowers and pollen was also completed. Garuleum species are aromatic, herbaceous shrubs with the inflorescence arranged in a capitulum composed of white or mauve coloured ray florets and yellow disc florets. The abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces, leaf structure and involucral bract sizes are important for species identification. Garuleum is widely distributed over southern Africa, with the majority of the species found in the Eastern Cape. Some species, such as G. album, have restricted distribution ranges while others, such as G. bipinnatum, are very common and widely distributed. The annual precipitation of a specific region, in addition to altitude are possibly important factors influencing the biogeography and evolution of the eight species. Heterocarpy has evolved in G. bipinnatum, providing this species with an ability to survive in frequently disturbed areas and to distribute widely. Garuleum schinzii also has a wide distribution and may have the ability to reproduce through heterocarpy. The rest of the Garuleum species have more restricted distribution ranges and only reproduce through homocarpy. The micromorphological characters of the leaves of Garuleum are not taxonomically informative, due to their intraspecific variability. Micromorphological analysis of the flowers of the different species indicated that trichome complement on ray- and disc floret corollas may be taxonomically important. The micromorphology of the epidermal surfaces of achenes from different species is informative for species identification. The micromorphology of the pollen is not sufficiently variable for species level identification, but does support the monophyly of the genus. The phylogeny obtained from the combined nuclear and chloroplast regions revealed that G. latifolium may belong to the earliest diverging lineage within the genus. The rest of the species are divided into two sister clades. Clade A consists of G. album, G. sonchifolium, G. schinzii and G. woodii. Clade B consists of G. bipinnatum, G. pinnatifidum and G. tanacetifolium. The position of G. schinzii in clade A is poorly supported, while the morphology and geographic proximity of this species to the species in clade B, suggests that G. schinzii belongs in clade B. This phylogeny, in combination with geographical, micromorphological and morphological data provided insight into a possible point of origin for the genus in Kwazulu-Natal or the northern parts of the Eastern Cape. The topography of the Drakensberg may have influenced the distribution routes of the different species, forcing distribution either along the coast or into the interior of Southern Africa by acting as a barrier.
Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie studie is die samestelling van ‘n taksonomiese hersiening en molekulêre filogenetiese analise van die agt Garuleum Cass. (Asteraceae) spesies van Suider Afrika. Die taksonomiese hersiening het tot die konstruksie van ‘n identifikasiesleutel vir die spesies, ‘n hersiening van alle tipe literatuur en nomenklatuur, opklaring en aanwysing van tipe eksemplare, samestelling van morfologiese en mikromorfologiese beskrywings, verspreidingskaarte en ekologiese data oor al die Garuleum spesies gelei. Die molekulêre filogenetiese ondersoek het tot die eerste volledige filogenie vir die genus Garuleum, gelei en is gebaseer op die die kerngeenstreek ITS en chloroplast intergeniese spasiëerder geenstreke trnT–trnF en psbA–trnH. Alle beskikbare tipe-eksemplare met betrekking tot Garuleum in Suider Afrika is bestudeer. Waar geen holotipe eksemplare gevind is nie, is geskikte iso- of sintipes tot lektotipes verklaar. In gevalle waar slegs sintipes aangewys is deur outeurs van spesiename is lektotipes verklaar. Addisionele herbariumeksemplare op lening vanaf verskeie Suid Afrikaanse en Europese herbaria is bestudeer en addisionele materiaal is in die veld versamel. Hierdie eksemplare is gebruik vir die saamstel van morfologiese beskrywings en verspreidingskaarte. Mikromorfologiese studies van die blaar oppervlaktes, vrugte, blomme en stuifmeel is ook voltooi. Garuleum spesies is aromatiese, kruidagtige struike, met bloeiwyses wat in ‘n hofie gerangskik is en bestaan uit wit tot perskleurige lintblomme en geel buisblomme. Die boonste en onderste blaaroppervlaktes, blaarvorm en die groottes van die skutblare is belangrik vir spesie identifikasie. Garuleum het ‘n wye verspreiding oor Suider Afrika, maar die meerderheid van die spesies kom in die Oos-Kaap voor. Sommige spesies, soos G. album, het ‘n beperkte verspreiding terwyl ander spesies, soos G. bipinnatum, meer algemeen en wydverspreid voorkom. Die jaarlikse gemiddelde reënval van ‘n spesifieke gebied asook hoogte bo seevlak mag dalk belangrike faktore wees wat die biogeografie en evolusie van die agt spesies beïnvloed het. Heterokarpie is deur G. bipinnatum ontwikkel en verleen aan hierdie spesie die vermoë om in dikwels-versteurde omgewings te oorleef en wyd te verprei. Garuleum schinzii het ook ‘n wye verspreiding en mag ook die vermoë hê om twee soorte sade te produseer. Die res van die Garuleum spesies het meer beperkte verspeidings en voortplanting geskied slegs deur homokarpie. Die mikromorfologiese kenmerke van die blare is nie van taksonomiese belang nie, as gevolg van die hoë mate van intraspesifieke variasie in die kenmerke. Mikromorfologiese analise van die blomme van die verskillende spesies dui daarop dat trigoomkompliment of die lint- en buisblom kroonblare taksonomies belangrik mag wees. Die mikromorfologie van die epidermale oppervlakke van dopvruggies van die verskillende spesies is informatief vir spesie identifikasie. Die mikromorfologie van die stuifmeel is nie variëerbaar genoeg vir spesie identifikasie nie, maar ondersteun wel die monofilie van die genus. Die filogenie verkry vanaf die gekombineerde kern- en chloroplast geenstreke het onthul dat G. latifolium moontlik behoort aan die eerste stamlyn wat van die gemeenskaplike voorouer gedivergeer het. Die res van die spesies word verdeel in twee suster klades. Klade A wat bestaan uit G. album, G. sonchifolium, G. schinzii en G. woodii. Klade B wat bestaan uit G. bipinnatum, G. pinnatifidum en G. tanacetifolium. Die posisie van G. schinzii in klade A word swak ondersteun, terwyl die morfologie en geografiese nabyheid van hierdie spesie aan die spesies in klade B voorstel dat G. schinzii in klade B hoort. Die filogenie, in kombinasie met die geografiese, mikromorfologiese en morfologiese data, verskaf insig oor ‘n moontlike punt van oorsprong vir die genus in Kwazulu-Natal of in die noordelike gedeeltes van die Oos-Kaap. Die topografie van die Drakensberge mag die verspreidingsroetes beinvloed het van die verskillende spesies langs die kus en na die binneland toe deur as ‘n verspering op te tree.
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Dissertation (M.Sc. (Plant Sciences))--University of the Free State, 2013, Compositae, psbA–trnH, trnT–trnL, Phylogeny, Systematics, Taxonomy, ITS, Palynology, Calenduleae, Garuleum, Asteraceae
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