Series (subsection) Agrifoliae, a Quercus agrifolia complex, and Q. x tamalpaisensis

While looking through papers for my work on clarifying the taxonomy of California's live oaks in sect. Lobatae, I came across the paper "The evolution and diversification of the red oaks of the California Floristic Province (Quercus section Lobatae, series Agrifoliae)". This paper provided some great incite into the taxonomy along with providing taxa that have basis for being added or changed.

1. Series Agrifoliae & a Quercus agrifolia complex
   "We find that the Agrifoliae are monophyletic and sister to all other red oak species. Within the Agrifoliae, all species are supported, with Quercus kelloggii sister to a clade of subevergreen taxa: (Quercus agrifolia – (Q. parvula + Q. wislizeni))."
   This paper provides definite support for series Agrifoliae (Which would be renamed to subsection Agrifoliae under INat's taxonomy) and proves monophyly of a Q. agrifolia complex. Subsection Agrifoliae would contain Q. kelloggii, Q. x morehus, Q. x ganderi, Q. agrifolia, Q. wislizeni, Q. parvula, and Q. agrifolia x wislizeni. If a Q. agrifolia complex were erected it would contain the latter four taxa as well as any other hybrids between them added to INat in the future. The complex would be very beneficial as telling between the three species and their hybrids can be very tricky, especially in observations with limited data. Even subsection Agrifoliae is useful as telling the difference between Q. x morehus and Q. x ganderi can be quite difficult at times.

2. Q. parvula var. tamalpaisensis being raised to Q. x tamalpaisensis
   " Notably, Q. parvula var. tamalpaisensis appears to be part of a hybrid swarm between Q. parvula and Q. wislizeni."
   The paper shows evidence for Q. parvula var. tamalpaisensis being raised to a nothotaxon. While no name was assigned in the paper, current naming convention would make it Q. x tamalpaisensis.

Hopefully this leads to an agreement for subsection Agrifoliae and a Q. agrifolia complex to be added to simplify taxonomy and clean up data. I don't have enough experience with Q. parvula to give an opinion on that subject, but I thought it interesting to bring up.
Note: the paper does not mention a Q. agrifolia complex, but the data provides support for it

Hauser, D.A., Keuter, A., McVay, J.D., Hipp, A.L. and Manos, P.S. (2017), The evolution and diversification of the red oaks of the California Floristic Province (Quercus section Lobatae, series Agrifoliae). American Journal of Botany, 104: 1581-1595. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1700291

Posted on March 27, 2024 09:26 PM by leytonjfreid