Two new species of Miersia and their phylogenetic placements alongside the recently described M.putaendensis (Gilliesieae, Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract

Two new species of the Chilean endemic genus Miersia (Gilliesieae, Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae) are described, M.stellata and M.raucoana, alongside morphological descriptions, a distribution map, illustrations, conservation status assessments, and an updated key to all species of Miersia. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences were performed to inquire into the evolutionary affinities of both new species and the recently described, M.putaendensis, within the tribe Gilliesieae.

Keywords: Alliaceae; Central Chile; IUCN; phylogeny; taxonomy.

Figure 1.

Distribution of Miersiastellata (green diamond) and Miersiaraucoana (orange diamond). Map by Claudia Cuevas.

Figure 2.

Maximum likelihood phylogram of Gilliesieae based on concatenated analysis of nrDNA ITS and cpDNA (trnL-F, rbcL). Numbers above branches represent bootstrap (BS) values > 50, asterisks indicate BS = 100. Numbers following species names correspond to accession numbers in Escobar et al. (2020). Novel Miersia species being placed within phylogeny are in red font. Two major Miersia clades (I, II) are denoted with black bars. Outgroups have been excluded from the figure and root branch is not to scale. Illustrations by Arón Cádiz-Véliz.

Figure 3.

Miersiastellata C.Cuevas & Nic.García A front view of flowers B detail of flower showing tepaliferous appendages and staminal tube C lateral view of flower D immature fruit E habit F habitat. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, C); 2 mm (B). Photos by Nicolás García (A, C, E, F), Nicolás Villaseca (B), Claudia Cuevas (D).

Figure 4.

Miersiastellata C.Cuevas & Nic.García A habit B flower (frontal view) C plant growing in its natural habitat D staminal tube (lateral view) E fruit (apical view) F fruit (lateral view). Illustration by Arón Cádiz-Véliz.

Figure 5.

Miersiaraucoana J.E.Sepúlveda & Nic.García A front view of flower B detail of flower lacking appendages C lateral view of flowers showing tiny tepaliferous appendages D inmature fruit E habit F habitat. Scale bars: 5 mm. Photos by José Luis Inostroza (A, D), Matías Tobar (B), Joaquín Sepúlveda (C, E, F).

Figure 6.

Miersiaraucoana J.E.Sepúlveda & Nic.García A habit B flower (frontal view) C staminal tube (lateral view) D seed E fruit (apical view) F fruit (lateral view). Illustration by Arón Cádiz-Véliz.