The taxonomic relevance of flower colour for Epimedium (Berberidaceae), with morphological and nomenclatural notes for five species from China.

ABSTRACT: Morphological variations, particularly flower colour, could be considered as an evolutionarily and ornamentally significant taxonomic criterion for Epimedium. Our extensive field investigation based on population studies revealed abundant intraspecific variations in flower colour. Five species, (i.e., E.acuminatum Franch., E.leptorrhizum Stearn, E.pauciflorum K.C.Yen, E.mikinorii Stearn, and E.glandulosopilosum H.R.Liang) were found to possess polymorphic flower colour, which is first described and illustrated here. Moreover, all these species were found to be polymorphic in other diagnostic characters, such as the type of rhizome, the number and arrangement of stem-leaves, and/or their indumentum, which have not been adequately described in previo

SUBMITTER: Xu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6403203 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature