Systematics of Juniperus section Juniperus based on leaf essential oils and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs)

The composition of the leaf essential oils of all the species of Juniperus in sect. Juniperus (= sect. Oxycedrus) are reported and compared (J. brevif olia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J, c. var. oblonga, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. o, subsp. badia, J. o. subsp, macrocarpa, J. o. subsp. transtagana, J. rigida, J. r, subsp. conferta, J. sibirica, J. taxi folia and J. t, var. lutchuensis). In addition, DNA fingerprinting by RAPDs was utilized. Based on these data, several taxa remained at the same taxon omic level: J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. rigida, J, r. var. conferta, and J. taxifolia. However, several taxa exhibited considerable differentiation that warrante d their recognition at the specific level: J. oblonga M.-Bieb. (= J. commun is var. oblonga), J. badia H. Gay (= J. oxycedrus subsp. badia), J. macroca rpa Sibth, and Sin. (= J. oxycedrus subsp, macrocarpa), J. navicularis Gand . (= J. oxycedrus subsp. transtagana), J. sibirica Brugsd. ( = J. communis var, saxatilis in part), and J. lutchuensis Koidz. (= J. taxifolia var. lut chuensis). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.