Pastinaca erzincanensis (Apiaceae), a new species from eastern Turkey and its phylogenetic position within Tordylieae

Abstract

Pastinaca erzincanensis Menemen & Kandemir (Apiaceae) is described as a new species, restricted to a single location in Erzincan Province, Turkey. To describe the species and assess its phylogenetic placement, field-collected and herbarium specimens were examined for morphological, fruit anatomical/micromorphological and palynological variation and included in a molecular phylogenetic study. Comparisons of leaf morphology, palynology and fruit anatomy suggest an affinity with Pastinaca (Tordylieae tribe Tordyliinae), although the presence of vittae in the fruit ribs is unique within the genus. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of nrDNA ITS sequences from representative members of tribe Tordylieae show that P. erzincanensis nests within a well-supported clade comprising members of Pastinaca, Malabaila and Trigonosciadium. Within a poorly supported Pastinaca s. lato clade, P. erzincanensis is sister group to M. pastinacifolia, with P. pimpinellifolia, P. yildizii and M. brachytaenia placed as successive sister taxa. Pastinaca erzincanensis differs from M. pastinacifolia, P. pimpinellifolia, P. yildizii and M. brachytaenia by having nine vittae on its dorsal mericarp surface (four vallecular and five rib vittae) and no commissural vittae. Based on characters of leaf morphology, palynology and fruit anatomy, and the molecular phylogenetic analysis results, we recognize the new species as belonging to the genus Pastinaca.