The taxonomy of Vaccinium section Myrtillus (Ericaceae)

Phenetic analyses of 218 OTUs belonging to Vaccinium section Myrtillus and scored for 13 characters generated five robust clusters. Vaccinium parvifol ium is the most distinct cluster, followed by the "myrtillus-scoparium" com plex, then V. membranaceum, V. caespitosum, and the "ovalifolium-deliciosum " complex. Biosystematic studies suggest that the five clusters comprise se ven taxa that possess many of the properties that define biological species . Indeed, the recognition of the seven taxa as species is supported by cyto logical, phenological, biogeographical and ecological as well as chemical d ata. A detailed taxonomic treatment for all these taxa is presented.