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Title: Reestablishment of Protium cordatum (Burseraceae) based on integrative taxonomy
Abstract

Species delimitation remains a challenge worldwide, but especially in biodiversity hotspots such as the Amazon. Here, we use an integrative taxonomic approach that combines data from morphology, phylogenomics, and leaf spectroscopy to clarify the species limits within theProtium heptaphyllumspecies complex, which includes subsp.cordatum, subsp.heptaphyllum, and subsp.ulei. Molecular phylogeny indicates that populations of subsp.cordatumdo not belong to theP. heptaphyllumclade, while morphology and near‐infrared spectroscopy data provide additional support for the recognition of a separate taxon.Protium cordatum(Burseraceae) is reinstated at species rank and described in detail. As circumscribed here,P. cordatumis endemic to white‐sand savannas located in the Faro and Tucuruí Districts, Pará State, Brazil, whereasP. heptaphyllumis a dominant and widespread plant lineage found in Amazonia, the Cerrado, and the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We present an identification key toP. cordatumand closely related lineages and a detailed taxonomic description ofP. cordatum, including habitat and distribution, a list and images of diagnostic features. This study demonstrates the importance of using multiple tools to characterize and distinguish plant species in highly diverse tropical regions.

 
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NSF-PAR ID:
10461092
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
TAXON
Volume:
68
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0040-0262
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 34-46
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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