Taxonomía numérica en un género de Angiospermas. Delimitación de especies en Crotalaria (Fabaceae-Faboideae)

Abstract

A taxonomic study of the Colombian species of Crotalaria (Papilionaceae/Leguminosae/Fabaceae-Papilionoideae/Faboideae-Crotalarieae) using numerical methods is presented. The phenetic methods of cluster analysis and ordination were used to evaluate similarities among the species and to help place them within the sections recognized by BISBY y POLHILL (1973) for the african species of the genus. 95 characters and 201 character-states were tested and fourteen relation patterns were analyzed. Close phenetic relationships were recognized between a number of species groups, and placement of some of the american taxa in the sections proved satisfactory in some cases (Crotalaria agatiflora, C. incana, C. micans, C maypurensis, C. vitellina, C. gloriae, C. pallida, C. brevidens, C. lanceolata, C. juncea, C. nitens, C. nitidula, C. pilosa, C. sagittalis, C. retusa, C. verrucosa, and C. spectabilis) but not in others (C. paulina, C. purdieana). The use of numerical methods also assisted in the recognition and delimitation of a new species (Crotalaria gloriae). In all, nineteen species are recognized to grow in Colombia, representing 5 sections (Table 3).