Systematics of multi-seeded eastern hemisphere Juniperus based on leaf essential oils and RAPD DNA fingerprinting

The composition of the leaf essential oils of 15 taxa of the multi-seeded Juniperus in sect. Sabina from the eastern hemisphere are reported and compared (J. chinensis, J. davurica, J. excelsa, J. excelsa var. polycarpos, J. foetidissima, J. jarkendensis, J. phoenicea, J. procera, J. sabina, J. sabina var. erectopatens, J. semiglobosa, J. seravschanica, J. talassica, J. thurifera, J. turcomanica). The volatile leaf oil compositions for these Juniperus species are presented. In addition, DNA fingerprinting revealed similar patterns among these species. Based on these data, J, seravschanica is treated as J. turcomanica B. Fedtsch. var. seravschanica (Kom.) R.P. Adams comb. nov., and J. talassica is recognized as J. semiglobosa var. talassica (Lipinsky) Silba. These data also support the continued recognition of J. jarkendensis Kom. as a distinct species. Juniperus sabina var. erectopatens (Cheng. and L.L. Fu) Y.F. Yu and L.K. Fu was found to be very distinct in both its terpenoids and RAPDs and is recognized as a distinct species, J. erectopatens (Cheng and L.K. Fu) R.P. Adams stat nov. The correct name for the Balochistan, Pakistan juniper is J. turcomanica var, seravschanica (Kom.) R.P. Adams, not J. excelsa or J. excelsa ssp. polycarpos. In addition, the systematic and evolutionary relationships are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.