The genus Deschampsia and the epithet “ alpina”

By

Chiapella, Jorge
Xue, Zhi-Qing
Greimler, Josef

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

181

Pages

95--103

Subjects

Aira alpina , Deschampsia , Deschampsia alpina , Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. alpina , Deschampsia cespitosa var. alpina

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.181.69546

 

Abstract

The epithet “alpina” has been recurrently used in the genus Deschampsia to name plants located in northern regions of Europe, Asia and North America, as a species (Deschampsia alpina (L.) Roem. & Schult.), but also in infraspecific categories (Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. alpina Tzvel. and Deschampsia cespitosa var. alpina Schur.). The morphological and molecular available evidence suggests the existence of a single species, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., in which individuals belonging to the same morphological gradient have received different names in different taxonomic categories throughout its wide distribution range. An evaluation of the available names indicates that all uses of the epithet “alpina” are illegitimate. A new combination is proposed at the infraspecific level as Deschampsia cespitosa subsp. neoalpina Chiapella, Xue & Greimler.