Systematics of Simplicia Kirk (Poaceae, Agrostidinae) – an endemic, threatened New Zealand grass genus

By

De Lange, Peter J. (Peter James)
Smissen, Rob
Rolfe, Jeremy
Ogle, Colin

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2016

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

75

Pages

119-144

Subjects

Conservation status , new species , New Zealand Flora , Poaceae , S. buchananii , S. felix , S. laxa , Simplicia

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.75.10328

 

Abstract

A new species of the New Zealand endemic grass Simplicia, S. felix is described. The new species is segregated from and compared with S. buchananii and S. laxa. Simplicia felix occurs mostly in lightly shaded areas of seasonally dry alluvial forest. A distribution map and an assessment of the conservation status of the new species are presented. Genetic variation in the genus was examined, building on previously published work but including additional sampling. Analysis of nrDNA ITS and ETS and plastid trnL intron and trnL–F intergenic spacer sequences show S. felix to be more closely related to S. laxa than to S. buchananii. NeighborNet analyses of AFLP profiles for the three species of Simplicia show each to consist of distinct clusters of genotypes well separated from each other.