A note on leaf venation and the circumscription of Tephroseris (Asteraceae–Senecioneae)

Molecular phylogenetic results had shown that Tephroseris, a genus differentiated from its closest relatives by its pinnately veined leaves, also contains species with palmate leaf venation. This had led to the conclusion that leaf venation is a homoplasious character in the lineage containing Tephroseris. We here take a closer look at leaf venation in Tephroseris and other species of Asteraceae–Senecioneae. We found that leaf venation in Tephroseris is distinct from leaf venation in Jacobaea vulgaris and Senecio vulgaris, which both have pinnately veined leaves as typical for most species of their respective genera, and that description of the leaves of Tephroseris as pinnately veined is incorrect. Instead, leaf venation in Tephroseris is very similar to that of upper cauline leaves of Ligularia stenocephala, a species with clearly palmately veined basal and lower cauline leaves. Both L. stenocephala and Tephroseris are part of the Ligularia–Cremanthodium–Parasenecio (L–C–P) complex. We conclude that leaf venation in Tephroseris is best regarded as derived from palmate leaf venation found in the large majority of species in the L–C–P complex, and presents no morphological obstacle to the circumscription of the genus. Citation: Kadereit J. W. & Bohley K. 2020: A note on leaf venation and the circumscription of Tephroseris (Asteraceae–Senecioneae). – Willdenowia 50: 113–117. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.50.50111 Version of record first published online on 23 March 2020 ahead of inclusion in April 2020 issue.