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A taxonomic and ecological analysis of two forest Chlorophytum taxa (Anthericaceae) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

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Abstract

On Kilimanjaro, Tanzania two rather different forms of Chlorophytum comosum were observed. One form occurred on higher altitudes, the other on lower altitudes. Morphological, molecular and ecological studies conclude that the two forms both are entitled to species recognition. The high altitude form must still be referred to C. comosum s.l., while the low altitude form is a new species and it is described as C. rhizopendulum Bjorå & Hemp sp. nov. The two species inhabit mutually completely exclusive habitats on Kilimanjaro. Whereas C. comosum has a wide ecological potential, C. rhizopendulum has narrow ecological demands as a highly adapted specialist. The two species are easily distinguished morphologically. Molecular studies show that C. comosum is of polyphyletic origin, and the species complex needs revision.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support granted by the Norwegian Research Council (CSB, Project 151050) NUFU (IN, PRO39/02) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (AH). Thanks to Anne K. Brysting for comments on earlier drafts of the MS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172, Blindern, 0318, Oslo, Norway

    Charlotte S. Bjorå & Gry Hoell

  2. Ecological Botanic Garden, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95445, Bayreuth, Germany

    Andreas Hemp

  3. Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Inger Nordal

Authors
  1. Charlotte S. Bjorå
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  2. Andreas Hemp
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  3. Gry Hoell
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  4. Inger Nordal
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Correspondence to Charlotte S. Bjorå.

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Bjorå, C.S., Hemp, A., Hoell, G. et al. A taxonomic and ecological analysis of two forest Chlorophytum taxa (Anthericaceae) on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Plant Syst Evol 274, 243–253 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0032-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0032-0

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