Systematics of Anaphalis of Taiwan I: resurrection of A. nagsawae (Compositae: Gnaphalieae) with recognition of two varieties

Abstract

In the montane flora of Taiwan, Anaphalis nepalensis is the most widely present species of Anaphalis (Compositae), yet its taxonomic status is uncertain. In the present study, we employed both morphological and molecular data to demonstrate that A. nepalensis is misidentified and does not occur in Taiwan. In contrast, the name has been misapplied in Taiwan to the previously described endemic species, A. nagasawae, which can be further divided into two varieties based on the number of heads in the inflorescence: A. nagasawae var. nagasawae has one or two heads, while A. nagasawae var. niitakayamensis has three to five heads. Furthermore, the typification of A. nagasawae, A. nepalensis and Gnaphalium niitakayamense are discussed here.