Antennaria howellii subsp. gaspensis comb, et stat. nov. (Asteraceae : Inuleae): justification for change

Abstract

Canonical discriminant analysis was used to assess the taxonomic status of Antennaria neodioica Greene var. gaspensis Fernald. Results based on these analyses indicate that Antennaria howellii Greene, Antennaria microphylla Rydberg, A. neodioica var. gaspensis, Antennaria pulvinata Greene, and Antennaria rosea Greene are morphologically distinct. High cross-validation assignment rates as well as high Geisser assignment probabilities for each of the taxa support this statement. Elevating var. gaspensis to the rank of species is in part supported by the data analysis, but doing so would be contrary to the species standard method and inconsistent with recent practice in revisions of the genus. The presence of scarious appendages at the tips of the upper cauline leaves, the open pedicellate inflorescence, the whitish-green capitula, general growth form, agamospermous reproduction, chromosome number, provenance, and quantitative morphology, in addition to the results of the canonical discriminant analysis, support recognition of var. gaspensis at an infraspecific rank. In keeping with the criteria utilized in recent revisions of the genus, var. gaspensis should more appropriately be treated as a subspecies. Recent nomenclatural rearrangements in A. neodioica and A. howellii founded on the priority of the latter lead to the following new combination: Antennaria howellii subsp. gaspensis (Fernald) Chmielewski. Key words: Antennaria howellii var. gaspensis, Asteraceae, Newfoundland flora, Gaspé Bay Peninsula flora.