Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of Limonium sect. Pteroclados (Plumbaginaceae), based on morphological data

Limonium Mill. sect. Pteroclados (Boiss.) Bokhari (Plumbaginaceae Juss.) was surveyed in this study. Morphology was used for investigating taxonomy as well as for making a cladistic analysis containing 18 ingroup taxa. The two previously recognized subsections Nobiles and Odontolepidae were found to constitute two sister groups. Limonium mouretii (Pit.) Maire shares synapomorphies with both subsections and is positioned as sister group of Limonium sinuatum (L.) Mill. s.l. plus L. lobatum (L. f.) Kuntze but with weak support. Based on the results of the cladistic analyses, a single introduction of a common ancestor to Limonium sect. Pteroclados subsect. Nobiles into the Canary Islands is postulated. Comparisons with cladistic and biogeographical studies of other Macaronesian flowering plant groups were made. An identification key to the taxa, descriptions and discussions on the taxonomy is provided. Morphological differences were found to be minor between Limonium sinuatum, L. bonduellei (T. Lestib.) Kuntze, and L. beaumierianum (Maire) Maire and they are hence suggested to be recognized as subspecies under L. sinuatum.