Disentangling the taxonomic structure of the Allium paniculatum species complex in central and eastern Europe using molecular, cytogenetic and morphological tools

Allium section Codonoprasum includes a group of evolutionarily young taxa with unclear taxonomic boundaries, evolutionary relationships and complex synonymy. The most complicated taxon in this is A. paniculatum, which until recently was considered to be the widespread morphologically variable species, distribution extending from Mediterranean area central Europe Pontic region. A recent study has shown that true paniculatum genetically distinct species occurring southern Ukraine Russia. clarification its identity questioned populations referred as other parts Europe, including (Slovakia, Hungary, northeast Serbia) western part eastern (Romania, Ukraine), where four (i.e. fuscum, fussii, marginatum podolicum) were described later frequently merged synonyms paniculatum. Here, diversification within abovementioned region explored, using various biosystematic methods (morphometry, leaf anatomy epidermal micromorphometry, karyology, estimation genome size GC content flow cytometry, molecular fingerprinting Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms). By means existence three well-separated population groups revealed material studied, taxonomically corresponding + podolicum. genetic patterns indicate at least some these might have survived their current ranges or neighbouring areas during last glacial early Holocene. fuscum inhabits shaded rocky outcrops wide neighbourhood Iron Gate (south-western Romania, north-western Bulgaria Serbia). closely related inhabiting dry grasslands oak forests Pannonian Transylvanian Basins. Two eastern-European taxa, podolicum paniculatum,which are very similar inmorphology, markers, conspecific named This zonal steppe forest regions In addition, nomenclatural treatment, well key for identifying recognized presented.