Removal of Anchusa macedonica from Anchusa (Boraginaceae): evidence from phenetics and karyotypic analysis

Anchusa macedonica is a rare species endemic to the historical region of Ma cedonia, where, since its description by A. Degen and I. Dorfler in 1897, i t has been collected from only a few localities. The phenotypic distinctive ness of this poorly-known species was already recognized by the monographer Gusuleac, who initially placed it in the monotypic Anchusa subg. Dimoniea. In later treatments, however, this subgenus was suppressed and A. macedoni ca included in subg. Buglossellum along with other annual taxa. The redisco very of this species in Greece provided suitable material for detailed micr omorphological, palynological and karyological observations. These revealed the strongly modified structure of pollen and stigma, which showed a surpr ising affinity with Gastrocotyle hispida, a monotypic genus related to Anch usa, A phenetic analysis of Anchusa s.str. summarised the distinctiveness o f A. macedonica with respect to congeneric taxa. Karyotype analysis showed a diploid complement of 2n = 18 chromosomes, a number currently known for t he related genus Cynoglottis but not for species of Anchusa. The occurrence in A. macedonica of a combination of morphological and karyological traits , which are otherwise separately found in unrelated species of Anchusa s.l. , highlights the need for a phylogenetic analysis at the tribal level to un derstand better the systematic relationships and correct taxonomic placemen t of this species within the tribe. The original collection by I. Dorfler n o. 283 (W) is here designated as lectotype.