Flag for Taxon: dwarf bayberry (Morella pumila)
| Flagger | Content Author | Content | Reason | Flag Created | Resolved by | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| williammcfarland | dwarf bayberry (Morella pumila) |
Listed as a synonym of Morella cerifera in POWO. Should we deviate from POWO? |
Apr. 8, 2019 16:57:20 +0000 | williammcfarland |
For now, it appears that Morella pumila will be maintained in iNaturalist as a deviation from Plants of the World Online |
Comments
I think it is distinct. However a lot of observations and collections of this species are really just sprouts from Morella cerifera.
so ok to lump into M. cerifera?
@loarie I don't think it has been decided yet. We may decide to keep it as its own species, and thereby deviate from Plants of the World Online.
So far opinion seems to be leaning toward a deviation, so to move discussion along I added the appropriate Taxon Framework Relationship at https://www.inaturalist.org/taxon_framework_relationships/332027
@jdmore Thanks! @janetwright @heathersullivan2 @whiteoak @norm_shea @cosmiccat @txlorax @marykeim Do you guys have an opinion about this taxon?
I don't have an opinion; I'll go with whatever you all decide.
All I can add is that USF's plant atlas says: "The xeric form with smaller leaves is sometimes recognized as M. pumila, but the seeming intergradation with typical M. cerifera has so far favored the recognition of one variable species in the group, M. cerifera s.l. (Thieret 1966; Wilbur 1994; Ward 2000)."
from - http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3942
So now POWO has moved this to Myrica cerifera (http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:166220-2). Currently in iNat as a deviation (https://www.inaturalist.org/taxon_framework_relationships/332027).
Are we leaving it this way? Should we be calling it Myrica pumila instead?
I think that for now, Morella is the preferred treatment of this group by most sources, unless new information about its taxonomy has come to light. As far as treating this taxon in Myrica, I am not sure on that score. Weakley's Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States lists Myrica pusilla and Myrica cerifera var. pumila in the synonymy of Morella pumila, but it doesn't list Myrica pumila as a synonym. If we maintain it as a distinct species and shift Morella back into Myrica, I think(?) that Myrica pusilla would be the correct name. For my part, I would leave it the way it is.
The bibliography used for POWO's circumscription of Myrica cerifera is here:
http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:166220-2#bibliography
Two separate questions that need to be addressed:
Should genus Morella be kept separate from Genus Myrica? (sounds like you are in the Morella camp)
Should species M. pumila/pusilla be kept separate from M. cerifera? (sounds like you are in the separate camp, but there is mixed opinion on that so far)
We are currently set up to deviate and leave as-is in iNaturalist. Other opinions?
@edwinbridges @jayhorn @adiamond @jkspooner In your opinion, should Morella pumila be maintained as a deviation from Plants of the World Online? Opinions are welcome.