Schinus section Myrtifolia (Anacardiaceae) in Argentina

Abstract

Schinus is a well known ecologically and economically important genus in Argentina. A recent molecular phylogenetic study proposed a new infrageneric classification of Schinus in sections. Section Myrtifolia has been defined as a clade of ca. 11 species from the Yungas, five of which occurring in Argentina (S. gracilipes, S. huyngan var. subtridentata, S. meyeri, S. myrtifolia, and S. venturii). The objective of this work was to present an updated synthesis of the diversity of Schinus section Myrtifolia in Argentina. New collections were revised and made. The traditional methodology for taxonomic studies, including morphological observations, was followed. Protologues and types were analyzed, and geographic distributions were recorded. Our results support the existence of only four species in Argentina, because we propose the synonymy of S. meyeri with S. venturii and of S. gracilipes var. pilosa with S. gracilipes. Schinus huyngan var. subtridentata is a new mention. A distribution map of the four species and a taxonomic key are presented. Schinus gracilipes and S. huyngan var. subtridentata are the most easily identified species; S. myrtifolia and S. venturii show the highest leaf morphological variation. Species are differentiated from one another by their latitudinal distribution.