Disentangling relationships among eastern Mediterranean Cymbalaria including description of a novel species from the southern Peloponnese (Greece)

Abstract The eastern Mediterranean basin hosts a remarkably high plant diversity. Historical connections between currently isolated areas across the Aegean region and long-distance dispersal events have been invoked to explain current distribution patterns of species. According most recent treatments, at least two Cymbalaria species occur in this area, microcalyx C. longipes . former comprises several intraspecific taxa, treated different ranks by authors based on morphological data, evidencing need taxonomic revision. Additionally, some populations show exclusive characters that do not match any described taxon. Here, we aim shed light systematics propose classification informed various sources evidence. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS, 3’ETS, ndh F rpl 32- trn L sequences estimated ploidy level taxa performing relative genome size measures. Molecular data combined with morphology support division traditionally delimited into acutiloba , minor corresponding well-delimited nrDNA lineages. Furthermore, combine subsp. paradoxa level. A group specimens previously thought belong constitute well-defined entity are here as new species, spetae is non-monophyletic, but characterized being glabrous diploid, unlike other suggest dispersals from mainland Islands, potentially facilitated marine regressions.