Probatova N.S.

The genus Arctopoa (Griseb.) Probat. (Poaceae): taxonomy, chromosome numbers, biogeography and differentiation

Year: 2003, Issue: XLIX, Pages: 89 - 130

As a result of taxonomic revision of Poa L. in the Russian Far East, a small group of spp. with some peculiar features in the leaf anatomy, as well as in morphology and ecology (moisty, often saline habitats) has been revealed, the spp. in question occur along the N Pacific coasts (one of them -also on the Atlantic coast of Canada), in the East Siberia, Altai and the Central Asia. A generic name -Arctopoa (Griseb.) Probat., with A. eminens (J.S. Presl) Probat. as type species, was proposed by the author in 1974. Nevertheless, current interpretation of this genus is not unanimous. Arctopoa has close relationships with some small genera of moisty habitats: Dupontia, Arctophila, Hyalopoa, all they arc supposet to be of hybrid origin. In the present paper three more species of Arctopoa arc proposet: one new combination and two spp. newly described. Chromosome numbers of Arctopoa spp. are presented. The differentiation within Arctopoa and biogeography of its representatives are discussed. Pacific N American coastal species Poa macrantha Vascy and P. douglasii Nees, despite of some common features in spikclct morphology with Arctopoa eminens, represent a different trend of evolution, but their generic position has to be revised.

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