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Patterns of molecular and morphological variation in Mentha subgen. Mentha (Lamiaceae)—materials for a global taxonomic revision

Tyler, Torbjörn LU ; Hansen, Anders Johannes and Olofsson, Jill K (2025) In Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society p.1-27
Abstract
Based on a combination of morphometric analyses, a chloroplast DNA phylogeny, and multivariate analyses of whole genome sequence data from >300 museum samples, we discuss and evaluate the delimitation, taxonomy, and evolution of wild and escaped taxa in Mentha subgen. Mentha, focusing on the northern hemisphere. Thirteen species (Mentha aquatica, M. arvensis, M. australis, M. capensis, M. dahurica, M. gattefossei, M. japonica, M. laxiflora, M. longifolia, M. micrantha, M. pulegium, M. spicata, and M. suaveolens) and three subspecies (M. aquatica subsp. litoralis, M.
arvensis subsp. canadensis, and M. longifolia subsp. hymalaiensis) are accepted, although admitting that more detailed studies may motivate the recognition of more... (More)
Based on a combination of morphometric analyses, a chloroplast DNA phylogeny, and multivariate analyses of whole genome sequence data from >300 museum samples, we discuss and evaluate the delimitation, taxonomy, and evolution of wild and escaped taxa in Mentha subgen. Mentha, focusing on the northern hemisphere. Thirteen species (Mentha aquatica, M. arvensis, M. australis, M. capensis, M. dahurica, M. gattefossei, M. japonica, M. laxiflora, M. longifolia, M. micrantha, M. pulegium, M. spicata, and M. suaveolens) and three subspecies (M. aquatica subsp. litoralis, M.
arvensis subsp. canadensis, and M. longifolia subsp. hymalaiensis) are accepted, although admitting that more detailed studies may motivate the recognition of more subspecific taxa. All other taxa are interpreted as hybrids, of which 15 different combinations are accepted and considered morphologically recognizable, still admitting that further combinations are plausible but may be impossible to identify with certainty. Some taxa are presumably of garden origin, while others may have been brought into cultivation from nature, in both cases creating possibilities for extensive gene flow between spontaneous and cultivated taxa both within and outside their natural geographical ranges. A diagnostic key to all accepted taxa
is provided and, although admitting the geographically and temporarily biased nature of such data, their world distribution is outlined based on a revision of 6226 specimens in Swedish herbaria. (Less)
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Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cpDNA; evolution; geographical distribution; hybridization; introgression; morphometrics; phylogeny; systematics; taxonomy; whole genome sequencing
in
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
article number
boaf074
pages
27 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
0024-4074
DOI
10.1093/botlinnean/boaf074
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dab91303-8b33-4161-af6b-794ef8172c0d
date added to LUP
2025-12-19 09:53:18
date last changed
2025-12-29 11:01:41
@article{dab91303-8b33-4161-af6b-794ef8172c0d,
  abstract     = {{Based on a combination of morphometric analyses, a chloroplast DNA phylogeny, and multivariate analyses of whole genome sequence data from &gt;300 museum samples, we discuss and evaluate the delimitation, taxonomy, and evolution of wild and escaped taxa in Mentha subgen. Mentha, focusing on the northern hemisphere. Thirteen species (Mentha aquatica, M. arvensis, M. australis, M. capensis, M. dahurica, M. gattefossei, M. japonica, M. laxiflora, M. longifolia, M. micrantha, M. pulegium, M. spicata, and M. suaveolens) and three subspecies (M. aquatica subsp. litoralis, M.<br/>arvensis subsp. canadensis, and M. longifolia subsp. hymalaiensis) are accepted, although admitting that more detailed studies may motivate the recognition of more subspecific taxa. All other taxa are interpreted as hybrids, of which 15 different combinations are accepted and considered morphologically recognizable, still admitting that further combinations are plausible but may be impossible to identify with certainty. Some taxa are presumably of garden origin, while others may have been brought into cultivation from nature, in both cases creating possibilities for extensive gene flow between spontaneous and cultivated taxa both within and outside their natural geographical ranges. A diagnostic key to all accepted taxa<br/>is provided and, although admitting the geographically and temporarily biased nature of such data, their world distribution is outlined based on a revision of 6226 specimens in Swedish herbaria.}},
  author       = {{Tyler, Torbjörn and Hansen, Anders Johannes and Olofsson, Jill K}},
  issn         = {{0024-4074}},
  keywords     = {{cpDNA; evolution; geographical distribution; hybridization; introgression; morphometrics; phylogeny; systematics; taxonomy; whole genome sequencing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{1--27}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society}},
  title        = {{Patterns of molecular and morphological variation in Mentha subgen. Mentha (Lamiaceae)—materials for a global taxonomic revision}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/boaf074}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/botlinnean/boaf074}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}