Delimitación de Neobuxbaumia mezcalaensis y N. multiareolata (Cactaceae) con base en análisis multivariados

Abstract

<em>Neobuxbaumia multiareolata</em> and <em>N. mezcalaensis</em> are taxa poorly defined, despite the second species was described originally as a variety of first. Although several classification proposals indicate that they represent different species, in the most recent cacti classification, both are considered a single species. The working hypothesis is that there are morphological characters that allow to separating <em>N. mezcalaensis</em> and <em>N. multiareolata</em>. Multivariate analyses were performed, with a total of 15 populations, to test if a boundary between <em>N. mezcalaensis</em> and <em>N. multiareolata</em> exists, and to compare the morphological characters with those of <em>N. squamulosa</em> and <em>N. polylopha</em>. The results allowed recognizing that intermediate phenotypes do not exist and that individuals of each analyzed populations were classified in their respective species. The areole size and form, central spine length and distribution pattern of the radial spines, plus four characters mentioned previously by other authors, allowed to differentiate <em>N. mezcalaensis</em> from <em>N. multiareolata</em>. Based on these evidences we propose that they represent independent species.