A re-assessment of the species boundaries in Merciera A.DC.
Master Thesis
2000
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Patterns of morphological variation were investigated in the genus Merciera A.DC. to re-assess the species boundaries. This study differs from previous studies in the genus because it employs multivariate statistical methods. Vegetative and floral characters obtained from herbarium specimens were analyzed. The results of the cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis support the recognition of six species, M. /ept%ba, M. brevifolia, M. tenuifolia, M. eck/oniana, M. azurea, and M. tetra/oba. M. azurea is re-instated as a species and a new species M. tetra/oba is described. An infra-generic phylogeny for the genus is proposed for the first time. A key to the species, descriptions, and distribution of all the species are also provided.
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Bibliography: leaves 41-47.
Reference:
Cupido, C. 2000. A re-assessment of the species boundaries in Merciera A.DC. University of Cape Town.