Work

Petrocodon gracilis (Gesneriaceae) is a synonym of P. mirus based on morphological and molecular data

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Petrocodon gracilis T.Ding & B.Pan and P. mirus X.Z.Shi, J.X.Fu & Li H.Yang are two recently described species exhibiting nearly identical morphology. To determine whether they represent the same taxon, we compared their type localities, type materials, and morphological features and conducted phylogenetic analyses using the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and five plastid regions ( atpI‐H , matK , rps16 , trnH‐psbA and trnL‐F ). Morphological comparisons and type information revealed that both species originated from the same population and are indistinguishable in key traits. Molecular phylogenetic analysis further showed that four samples of P. gracilis and P. mirus form a strongly supported monophyletic clade. Combined morphological and molecular evidence confirmed their conspecificity. We therefore treat P. gracilis as a synonym of P. mirus .

Source: Nordic Journal of Botany

DOI: 10.1002/njb.05036

Authors: Nan Li, Xi‐Zuo Shi, Yan‐Lin Zhao, Yan‐Xiang Lin

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Institute of Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Plant Diversity and Evolution

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,950

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China