Taxonomic status of three taxa of Elsholtzia (E. hallasanensis, E. springia, and E. splendens var. fasciflora) (Lamiaceae) based on molecular data

• Published in: Sigmul bunryu hag-hoeji = Korean journal of plant taxonomy Vol. 41; no. 3
• Main Authors: Lee, C.S., Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Hwang, K.A., Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Kim, J.O., Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Suh, H.M., Kyungpook National University, Sangju, Republic of Korea, Lee, N.S., Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2011
• Subjects: E. hallasanensis; E. splendens var. fasciflora; E. springia; ITS; LAMIACEAE
• ISSN: 1225-8318
• DOI: 10.11110/kjpt.2011.41.3.259

Elsholtzia hallasanensis, E. springia, and E. splendens var. fasciflora (Lamiaceae) were reported recently as new species or new varieties of E. splendens according to their morphological characteristics. To reappraise the taxonomic status of these additional taxa and to determine the relationships between all Korean Elsholtzia taxa except E. saxatilis, which is distributed in North Korea, molecular studies based on the nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (rpl16, and trnH-psbA) sequences of seven taxa of Elsholtzia and one outgroup were carried out. The molecular data support that E. angustifolia and E. minima are distinct species from E. splendens and E. ciliata, respectively, because they have several private marker genes and show monophyly. The molecular data also support that E. splendens has a very close taxonomic relationship with both E. hallasanensis and E. springia. We found that E. splendens var. fasciflora, with multiple inflorescence, was based on several private marker genes and on the monophyly of its trees, suggesting that it can be considered as a variety. Elsholtzia springia, with the same sequences and the same morphological characteristics with E. hallasanensis after transplanting, should be treated as a synonym of E. hallasanensis. Moreover, we consider the taxonomic status of E. hallasanensis as E. splendens var. hallasanensis (Y. Lee) N.S. Lee and C.S. Lee, stat. nov.