Morphological and molecular analysis support the identity of Arenaria pycnophylloides (Caryophyllaceae, Arenarieae), and the exclusion of the genera Sabulina from the Argentinian flora

Abstract

Minuartia altoandina has been described as an endemic species for northwestern Argentina, and later transferred to the genus Sabulina. In this contribution and based on morphological observations and molecular data, Sabulina altoandina is proposed here as a heterotypic synonym of Arenaria pycnophylloides, a native species to the high Andean regions of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina; as a consequence, the genus Sabulina is excluded from the Argentinian Flora. On the other hand, A. pycnophylloides var. compacta is synonymized under A. pycnophylloides, and in addition, the name of this variety is lectotypified. A morphological description of A. pycnophylloides and a photographic plate of the taxon are provided to facilitate identification of the species. Additionally, a distribution map of the species is provided and is excluded from the Peruvian Flora.