Mcneillia

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Mcneillia

Mcneillia Dillenb. & Kadereit in Taxon 63(1): 78. 2014 sec. De Luca & al. 20221
  • 1. De Luca, D., Del Guacchio, E., Conti, F., Iamonico, D. & Caputo, P. 2022: Relationships within Mcneillia indicate a complex evolutionary history and reveal a new species of Minuartiella (Caryophyllaceae, Alsinoideae). – Plants 11(16): 2118. http://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162118, 2.  ICN Art. 53.1, 3. Dillenberger, M. S. & Kadereit, J. W. 2014: Maximum polyphyly: multiple origins and delimitation with plesiomorphic characters require a new circumscription of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae). – Taxon 63(1): 64-88, 4. Dillenberger, M. S. & Kadereit, J. W. 2014: Maximum polyphyly: multiple origins and delimitation with plesiomorphic characters require a new circumscription of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae). – Taxon 63(1): 64-88. http://doi.org/10.12705/631.5: 83
  • =Minuartia ser. Graminifoliae Mattf. in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 15: 130. 1922 syn. sec. De Luca & al. 20225
  • 5. De Luca, D., Del Guacchio, E., Conti, F., Iamonico, D. & Caputo, P. 2022: Relationships within Mcneillia indicate a complex evolutionary history and reveal a new species of Minuartiella (Caryophyllaceae, Alsinoideae). – Plants 11(16): 2118. http://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162118, 6. McNeill, J. 1962: Taxonomic studies in the Alsinoideae: I. Generic and infra-generic groups. – Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 24(2): 79-155

Notes

Mcneillia was segregated from Minuartia L. by Dillenberger & Kadereit (2014) and a detailed phylogenetic study was performed by De Luca & al. (2022). According to their results, the most widespread and variable species, i.e., Mcneillia graminifolia, was not monophyletic in its previous circumscription. Some of its subspecies, i.e., subsp. hungarica and subsp. rosanoi deserve recognition as separate species. On the contrary, Mc. moraldoi has been reduced to a subspecies of Mc. rosanoi, as well as Mc. graminifolia subsp. clandestina. This latter amphiadriatic taxon. however, even if rather morphologically homogeneous throughout its range, is represented by two different genetic groups, one in Italy and one in the Balkan peninsula. De Luca & al. (2022) also proposed to raise Mc. saxifraga subsp. tmolea to the specific rank. Finally, Mc. graminifolia subsp. brachypetala was found to be a distinct species of genus Minuartiella, previously believed to occur only in W Asia.A

Distribution (General)

S and SE Europe (Italy, incl. Sicily, Balkans), NW AnatoliaB,C

Diagnosis

Diagnostic characters: Bracts similar to all stem leaves; sepals acuminate, 5- to many-veined, marginal veins conspicuous beyond the middle of the sepal length; petals longer than sepals, obovate, narrowly cuneate at the base.C

Chromosome Numbers

2n = 32

Description

Perennial herbs (sometimes suffruticose) up to 20(−40) cm tall, which are mainly densely caespitose to pulvinate, are often with glandular hairs, especially on the shortened peduncles, with terete stems, have lanceolate to linear (rarely oblanceolate) leaves (the cauline ones similar to the bracts), have flowers with petals white, which are erect or suberect at anthesis, obovate and cuneate to the base, and are usually longer than sepals, which are 5-7(-9)-veined (De Luca & al. 2022); capsule shorter than calyx; seeds fimbriate on the dorsal ridge (McNeill, 1962); they generally occur in rocky places especially on limestone (less frequently on granites, gneiss or conglomerates), at 600–2400 m.a.s.l. (De Luca & al. 2022).A

Acknowledgments

Revised by Duilio Iamonico & Emanuele Del Guacchio

Bibliography

A. Del Guacchio, E. & Iamonico, D. 2022: Mcneillia - Caryophyllaceae checklist
B. De Luca, D., Del Guacchio, E., Conti, F., Iamonico, D. & Caputo, P. 2022: Relationships within Mcneillia indicate a complex evolutionary history and reveal a new species of Minuartiella (Caryophyllaceae, Alsinoideae). – Plants 11(16): 2118. http://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162118
C. Dillenberger, M. S. & Kadereit, J. W. 2014: Maximum polyphyly: multiple origins and delimitation with plesiomorphic characters require a new circumscription of Minuartia (Caryophyllaceae). – Taxon 63(1): 64-88. http://doi.org/10.12705/631.5