Genetic structuring, dispersal and taxonomy of the high-alpine populations of the Geranium arabicum/kilimandscharicum complex in tropical eastern Africa

摘要: The scattered eastern African high mountains harbor a renowned and highly endemic flora, but the taxonomy phylogeographic history of many plant groups are still insufficiently known. high-alpine populations Geranium arabicum/kilimandscharicum complex present intricate morphological variation have recently been suggested to comprise two new taxa. Here we aim contribute clarification these by analyzing genetic (AFLP) in range-wide samples, address whether hybridization has contributed taxonomic problems. We identified only groups. One corresponded G. kilimandscharicum, which reported as exclusively confined Rift East Africa. other arabicum, from lower altitudes on same well wide altitudinal span Ethiopia western four analyzed described species Bale Mts were admixed, indicating that they result recent long-distance dispersal kilimandscharicum Africa followed with local arabicum naturally disturbed habitats. Some admixture between was also inferred mountains, supporting earlier suggestions introgression based morphology. did not find support for recognition subspecies Ethiopia. Interestingly, lacked clear geographic structuring, suggesting colonization different or extensive intermountain gene flow.