Abstract
Background and aims – Gloriosa superba L. is a highly variable species occurring in a wide range of ecological habitats in South Africa, tropical Africa and Asia. The morphological variation in G. superba was found to be complicated and therefore numerical methods were used to re-evaluate morphological variation and species delimitation in the G. superba complex. Methods – This study was based on 79 herbarium specimens from B, BM, BR, C, COI, F, K, L, SRGH, U, UPS and WAG (abbreviations follow Holmgren et al. 1990). Cluster and ordination analyses were used to explore morphological variation within the study group. The morphometric data set based on both qualitative and quantitative characters was entered directly into a computerized matrix and a cluster analysis was computed using NTSYS package. The variability of individual characters was evaluated by box-plots using SPSS. Key results & conclusions – The morphological study has revealed the existence of four phenetic species in the G. superba complex. Recognition of these species is based on habit, inflorescence characters and distribution patterns. It is here proposed that four species should be recognized in the G. superba complex: G. baudii (Terracc.) Chiov., G. carsonii Baker, G. superba L. and G. simplex L. Gloriosa superba is the most widespread taxon, occurring in South Africa, tropical Africa and Asia. Gloriosa simplex, G. carsonii and G. baudii are confined to the African continent, with G. simplex widespread in tropical Africa, G. carsonii common in south, central to east tropical Africa, and G. baudii having the most restricted range, confined to the arid regions of northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Morphological analysis found four phenetic species in the G. superba complex.
- Taxon
- G. superba
Gloriosa superbae0 - Outcome
- four phenetic speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The morphological study has revealed the existence of four phenetic species in the G. superba complex”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors propose recognizing four species in the complex.
- Taxon
- G. superbaGloriosa superbae0
- Outcome
- four species should be recognizede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It is here proposed that four species should be recognized in the G. superba complex: G. baudii (Terracc.) Chiov., G. carsonii Baker, G. superba L. and G. simplex L.”
Claim · model-written summary
Gloriosa superba occurs across South Africa, tropical Africa and Asia.
- Taxon
- Gloriosa superbaGloriosa superbae0
- Outcome
- most widespread taxone0
- Setting
- South Africa, tropical Africa and Asiae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Gloriosa superba is the most widespread taxon, occurring in South Africa, tropical Africa and Asia”
Claim · model-written summary
Gloriosa simplex is widespread in tropical Africa.
- Taxon
- G. simplexGloriosa simplexe0
- Outcome
- widespreade0
- Setting
- tropical Africae0
Verbatim
e0“G. simplex widespread in tropical Africa”
Claim · model-written summary
Gloriosa carsonii is common in south, central and east tropical Africa.
- Taxon
- G. carsoniiGloriosa carsoniie0
- Outcome
- commone0
- Setting
- south, central to east tropical Africae0
Verbatim
e0“G. carsonii common in south, central to east tropical Africa”
Claim · model-written summary
Gloriosa baudii is confined to arid northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
- Taxon
- G. baudiiGloriosa baudiie0
- Outcome
- most restricted rangee0
- Setting
- northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somaliae0
Verbatim
e0“G. baudii having the most restricted range, confined to the arid regions of northern Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia”