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The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus (Ericaceae)

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Abstract

Phenetic analyses of 218 OTUs belonging toVaccinium sectionMyrtillus and scored for 13 characters generated five robust clusters.Vaccinium parvifolium is the most distinct cluster, followed by the “myrtillus-scoparium” complex, thenV. membranaceum, V. caespitosum, and the “ovalifolium-deliciosum” complex. Biosystematic studies suggest that the five clusters comprise seven taxa that possess many of the properties that define biological species. Indeed, the recognition of the seven taxa as species is supported by cytological, phenological, biogeographical and ecological as well as chemical data. A detailed taxonomic treatment for all these taxa is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Acadia University, B0P 1X0, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

    S. P. Vander Kloet

  2. Center for Biodiversity & Conservation Biology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, M5S 2C6, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    T. A. Dickinson

  3. Botany Department, University of Toronto, M5S 3B2, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    T. A. Dickinson

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  1. S. P. Vander Kloet
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  2. T. A. Dickinson
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Vander Kloet, S.P., Dickinson, T.A. The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus (Ericaceae). Brittonia 51, 231–254 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2307/2666632

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