Morphometric analysis of the Daphne kiusiana complex (Thymelaeaceae) using digitized herbarium specimens

Abstract

Daphne kiusiana is an evergreen shrub with dense head-like umbels of white flowers distributed in southern Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Plants in China and Taiwan are recognized as var. atrocaulis by having a dark purple stem, elliptic leaves, and persistent bracts. Recently, plants on Jejudo Island were segregated as a separate species, D. jejudoensis, given their elliptic leaves with an acuminate apex, a long hypanthium and sepals, and a glabrous hypanthium. Morphological variations of three closely related taxa, the D. kiusiana complex, were investigated across the distributional range to clarify the taxonomic delimitation of members of the complex. Twelve characters of the leaf and flower were measured from digitized herbarium specimens using the image analysis program ImageJ and were included in a morphometric analysis, the results of which indicate that the level of variation in the characters is very high. The results of a principal component analysis weakly separated D. jejudoensis from D. kiusiana according to their floral characteristics, such as a longer, glabrous hypanthium, and larger sepals. However, some individuals of D. kiusiana, particularly those from Bigeumdo Island, were included in D. jejudoensis. Recognition of D. kiusiana var. atrocaulis based on the leaf shape was not supported in the analysis, and D. jejudoensis may be recognized as a variety of D. kiusiana. Our morphometric analysis shows that digitized images of herbarium specimens could be useful and an additional method by which to investigate more diverse specimens.