On the identity of Goodyera rosulacea (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae: Cranichideae: Goodyerinae)

Abstract

Morphological studies based on the protologues, observations of herbarium specimens and field surveys suggest that Goodyera rosulacea is a synonym of G. brachystegia. According to genetic studies, accessions of G. rosulacea and G. brachystegia form a single clade in the phylogenetic trees obtained from analyses of the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS region and four plastid regions (accD-psaI, matK, trnK-rps16 and trnL-F). This phylogenetic evidence further underpins the conclusion that the two names refer to one and the same species.