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 previous studies. Therefore, their morphological descriptions have been complemented and/or revised. We also provide notes on the morphology and nomenclature for each species. Additionally, a key to the species in China has been provided. The present study could serve as a basis for understanding their taxonomy and helping their utilisation as an ornamental plant.

Cluster analysis of karyotype similarity coefficients in Epimedium (Berberidaceae): insights in the systematics and evolution

“…Moreover, Epimedium has become very popular in horticulture due to its excellent characteristics, such as exotic flower shape, variable flower colour, perennial evergreen plant etc. In recent years, studies on Epimedium have become considerably more common ( Xu et al 2019 ; Qu et al 2020 ).…”

Continuous petal variation in Epimedium tianmenshanense (Berberidaceae), a taxon endemic to western Hunan, China

“…Alteration in floral display strategies regarding variation in form, size and arrangement can result in evolutionary innovation leading to new ecological adaptations and speciation (Zhang et al 2017). Data on morphological characteristics is fundamental for many aspects of research, such as taxonomic (Xu et al 2019), ecological (Kuriya et al 2015), conservation and evolutionary biological (Maad et al 2013).…”

“…Many species have not been collected since their original description. Therefore, the morphological variation of many species remains poorly understood, which has generated a great number of taxonomic problems (Zhang et al 2011, 2014a, 2015b, Xu et al 2014, 2019, Liu et al 2016, He et al 2020.…”

“…Therefore, the description and the taxonomic treatment of E. tianmenshanense are in doubt. The taxonomy of Epimedium is complex and therefore it is especially important to adequately study the variability of the species (Liu et al 2016, Xu et al 2019. Based on extensive field investigation and careful observation of characteristics, we aim to answer the following questions.…”

The complete chloroplast genome of Epimedium elachyphyllum Stearn (Berberidaceae), an endangered species endemic to China

“…Epimedium L. family contains about 60 species intermittently distributed in the Eurasia between Europe and eastern Asia. (Xu et al 2019). The major bioactive components are flavonoid glycosides in Epimedii Folium (Wang et al 2007;Ma et al 2011).…”