| Abstract Detail
Systematics Section Rice, Jacqueline [1], Heaney, James [2], Soltis, Douglas [1], Soltis, Pamela [3]. Systematics of Myrica cerifera L. This study focuses on the currently unresolved systematics of Myrica cerifera L. (wax myrtle) and Myrica cerifera var. pumila Michaux (dwarf wax myrtle). The two entities are treated as the same species by many researchers. However, because their morphologies are noticeably different (M. cerifera is a large shrub, M. cerifera var. pumila is a small understory subshrub), others have proposed that these plants are actually two distinct species, M. cerifera and M. pumila (Michaux) Small. The two entities have been observed to have consistent morphological differences, although it is unknown whether or not these morphological differences stem from genetic differences, or if they are simply a response to the habitat in which the plants occur. Using DNA sequences from samples across the southeastern United States, phylogenetic analyses show small but consistent differences between the two in both nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid regions (psbA-trnH, trnG-trnS, trnG-trnG, psbM-ycf6, petA-psbJ, rpl32-trnL) of DNA. Specifically, results of this study show three polymorphic sites between M. cerifera and M. cerifera var. pumila in ITS. These results suggest that M.cerifera and M. cerifera var. pumila could indeed be distinct from one another at the species level. Broader Impacts:
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1 - University of Florida, Department of Biology, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
2 - University Of Florida, Dickinson Hall, Museum Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611-7800, USA
3 - University Of Florida, Florida Museum Of Natural History, PO BOX 117800, Gainesville, FL, 32611-7800, USA
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Khorassan Ballroom/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Monday, July 11th, 2011
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY017
Abstract ID:565 |
