Systematics of Juniperus section Juniperus based on leaf essential oils and random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs)

The composition of the leaf essential oils of all the species of Juniperus in sect. Juniperus (= sect. Oxycedrus) are reported and compared (J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J, c. var. oblonga, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. o, subsp. badia, J. o. subsp, macrocarpa, J. o. subsp. transtagana, J. rigida, J. r, subsp. conferta, J. sibirica, J. taxifolia and J. t, var. lutchuensis). In addition, DNA fingerprinting by RAPDs was utilized. Based on these data, several taxa remained at the same taxonomic level: J. brevifolia, J. cedrus, J. communis, J. c. var. saxatilis, J. formosana, J. oxycedrus, J. rigida, J, r. var. conferta, and J. taxifolia. However, several taxa exhibited considerable differentiation that warranted their recognition at the specific level: J. oblonga M.-Bieb. (= J. communis var. oblonga), J. badia H. Gay (= J. oxycedrus subsp. badia), J. macrocarpa Sibth, and Sin. (= J. oxycedrus subsp, macrocarpa), J. navicularis Gand. (= J. oxycedrus subsp. transtagana), J. sibirica Brugsd. ( = J. communis var, saxatilis in part), and J. lutchuensis Koidz. (= J. taxifolia var. lutchuensis). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.