Micranthes (Saxifragaceae) and its infraspecific taxa in Europe

Abstract

The taxonomy of the genus Micranthes Haw. in Europe is reviewed and the morphological characters that can be used to discriminate between it and Saxifraga L. are discussed. A new classification of Micranthes stellaris (L.) Galasso, Banfi & Soldano is proposed, based on recent phylogeographical studies. In it, the species is divided into three subspecies, (a) subsp. stellaris, distributed from eastern N. America, Greenland and northern Europe, south and west to the Massif Central, the Iberian peninsula and ?Corsica; (b) subsp. hispidula (Rochel) Gornall, ranging from the Carpathians south to the Balkan peninsula, and (c) subsp. robusta (Engl.) Gornall, confined to the Alps. The first has four varieties, var. stellaris, var. gemmifera (D.A. Webb) Gornall, var. paucidentata Gornall and var. obovata (Engl.) Gornall. The last has two varieties, var. acaulis (Haller f.) Gornall and var. prolifera (Sternb.) Gornall. A new combination is also made for the viviparous morphs of M. clusii (Gouan) Fern. Prieto, Vázquez, Vallines & Cires, viz. M. clusii subsp. lepismigena (Planellas) Gornall.