On the identity of the species Pulsatilla astragalifolia (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract

Pulsatilla is a genus of early-flowering, ornamental, partly medicinal plants, characterized by a high level of hybridization. In this connection, many of them are rare and endemic to individual territories. Several different nomenclature combinations have been made over the extensive history of the genus revising, which often causes debates between scientists. One of the cases is the taxon Pulsatilla astragalifolia Pobed. To try to solve this issue, ITS fragments of nuclear DNA of three close species (Pulsatilla bungeana C. A. Mey. ex Ledeb., P astragalifolia Pobed., P tenuiloba (Hayek) Juz.) were sequenced. Another group is formed by several clades with samples of P. bungeana and P. astragalifolia, According to the results obtained, the studied samples were divided into several groups. One group consists of two clades: the first - P. tenuiloba samples, the second - P. astragalifolia samples. Which may indicate the presence of several forms of these species. Subsequently, it is planned to study new occurrences of these species, as well as the analysis of the other DNA fragments. However, the findings indicate that Pulsatilla astragalifolia is a separate species, having both morphological and genetic differences from related species.