Integrative taxonomy reveals cryptic diversity within the <i>Euphorbia nicaeensis</i> alliance (Euphorbiaceae) in the central Balkan Peninsula.

ABSTRACT: The Eurasian steppes are the second-largest continuous biome on Earth. Euphorbia glareosa, a member of the Euphorbia nicaeensis alliance, is a widespread species in the macroclimatically defined zonal Pontic steppes and westerly and southerly adjacent extrazonal steppe outposts determined by local climatic, topographic, and edaphic conditions. In the extrazonal steppes, in particular within the Anatolian, Danubian, Thracian, and Pannonian grasslands, it is more or less continuously distributed, but with several disjunct occurrences in the central Balkan Peninsula, which is renowned for its high biodiversity. Several (infra)specific taxa have been recognised within E. glareosa s.l., but relationships among them remain elusive. We applied an integrative approach ranging

SUBMITTER: Sharovikj Ivanova A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12035539 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature