Morpho-environmental characterization of the genus Dianthus (Caryophyllaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula: D. pungens group

The morphology of several taxa of the Dianthus pungens group (D. gredensis, D. langeanus, D. pungens subsp. brachyanthus and D. pungens subsp. hispanicus) was characterized. In order to correlate the morphological variability with environmental parameters, an altitudinal and bioclimatic approach was applied. The data provided evidence of apparent correlations between the morphological variability within this taxonomic group and the altitudinal-climatic distribution. As the correlations detected here do not allow to establish significant relationships between the environmental variables considered, a complementary analysis (e.g. a geological approach) is needed. An analytical primer is proposed to pursue the morphological characterization of this genus. Two opposite tendencies were obtained: D. gredensis—D. langeanus and D. pungens subsp. hispanicus. Dianthus pungens subsp. brachyanthus is recognized as an intermediate taxon between the two tendencies, at morphological, altitudinal and climatic level. One new subspecific combination is proposed, and some old combinations are applied again in order to establish the taxonomic group Dianthus pungens (D. pungens subsp. brachyanthus (Boiss.) Bernal, Fernández Casas, G. López, Laínz & Muñoz Garmendia, D. pungens subsp. gredensis (Pau ex Caballero) A. Crespí, C.P. Fernandes, A. Castro, Bernardos & Amich, comb. nova, D. pungens subsp. hispanicus (Asso) O. Bolòs & Vigo, D. pungens subsp. langeanus (Willk.) O. Bolòs & Vigo.