ABSTRACT

This study examines the taxonomic rank of the New Zealand endemic sedge Schoenus caespitans. This taxon has been alternatively recognised as a separate species or as a variety of Schoenus apogon and no clear consensus on its rank has been reached. We analysed chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences of sympatric S. caespitans and S. apogon from two populations. We found that S. caespitans and S. apogon are genetically as well as morphologically distinct in sympatry and should, therefore, be recognised as separate species. Examination of herbarium specimens indicated that the two species are morphologically distinct throughout their distributions in New Zealand. There are few recent records of S. caespitans, which is ranked as Naturally Uncommon with a Data Poor qualifier, and demographic assessments of previously recorded populations and searches for new populations of S. caespitans are required. Additional work is also needed to determine the relationships of New Zealand S. apogon and S. caespitans with populations from overseas.

摘要

本研究考察了新西兰地方性莎草（Schoenus caespitans）的分类学等级。另外，该分类单元还被认为是一个单独的物种或多种Schoenus apogon，尚未就其等级达成明确共识。我们分析了来自两个种群的同胞S. caespitans和S. apogon的叶绿体和核DNA序列。我们发现S. caespitans和S. apogon在交配方式上在遗传和形态上是不同的，因此应被认为是单独的物种。对植物标本室标本的检查表明，这两个物种在其整个新西兰分布中在形态上是截然不同的。很少有最近的记载，因为数据贫乏而被归为“自然罕见”，因此需要对先前记录的种群进行人口统计学评估，并寻找新的凯撒氏菌种群。还需要进一步的工作来确定新西兰的S. apogon和S. caespitans与来自海外的人口之间的关系。