Flower morphology of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) and its systematic significance

• Published in: Plant diversity Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 3 - 27
• Main Authors: Jang, Ju Eun, Baasanmunkh, Shukherdorj, Nyamgerel, Nudkhuu, Oh, Seung-Yoon, Song, Jun-Ho, Yusupov, Ziyoviddin, Tojibaev, Komijlon, Choi, Hyeok Jae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier B.V 01.01.2024; Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Allium; Flower morphology; Pistil character; Research Paper; Significant characteristic; Species level; Statistical analysis; Pistil character; Flower morphology; Statistical analysis; Significant characteristic; Species level; Allium
• ISSN: 2468-2659; 2096-2703; 2468-2659
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2023.06.009

Allium is a complicated genus that includes approximately 1000 species. Although its morphology is well studied, the taxonomic importance of many morphological traits, including floral traits, are poorly understood. Here, we examined and measured the floral characteristics of 87 accessions of 74 Allium taxa (belonging to 30 sections and nine subgenera) from Central to Eastern Asian countries. We then examined the taxonomic relationships between select flower characteristics and a phylogenetic tree based on ITS sequences. Our results confirm that floral morphology provides key taxonomic information to assess species delimitation in Allium. We found that perianth color is an important characteristic within the subg. Melanocrommyum, Polyprason, and Reticulatobulbosa. In subg. Allium, Cepa, and Rhizirideum, significant characteristics include ovary shape, perianth shape, and inner tepal apex. For species in subg. Angunium, the key taxonomic character is ovule number (only one ovule in per locule). In the subg. Allium, Cepa, Polyprason, and Reticulatobulbosa, which belong to the third evolutionary line of Allium, hood-like appendages occur in the ovary, although these do not occur in subg. Rhizirideum. Our results also indicated that the flower morphology of several species in some sections are not clearly distinguished, e.g., sect. Sacculiferum (subg. Cepa) and sect. Tenuissima (subg. Rhizirideum). This study provides detailed photographs and descriptions of floral characteristics and information on general distributions, habitats, and phenology of the studied taxa. •Floral morphology provides key taxonomic information to assess species delimitation in Allium.•Pistil characteristics strongly correlate with the three major evolutionary lines of Allium.•Ovule number (only one ovule in per locule) is a key taxonomic character for subg. Angunium species.•Ovary shape, perianth shape, and inner tepal apex are significant characteristics within subg. Allium, Cepa, and Rhizirideum.