Centaurea L. section Phrygia Pers.: phylogeny and biogeography

Molecular systematics, along with other biosystematic approaches, is an essential tool when trying to decipher the natural relationships among taxa, and in complex groups, such as <i>Centaurea</i> L., this approach seems useful, if not necessary. <i>Centaurea</i> is one of the largest genera of the Compositae and its taxonomic treatment has always been complicated. In particular, the sectional delineation of sections <i>Jacea</i> (Mill.) DC. and <i>Phrygia</i> Pers. (=<i>Lepteranthus</i> nom. inval.) has been controversial for long time. The present review tries to elucidate nomenclature and systematics of sect. <i>Phrygia</i>. Furthermore, taxonomy of morphologically related Iberian species belonging to sect. <i>Phrygia</i> has historically presented many problems. In order to clarify it, an integrative study with morphological and molecular data was used. Moreover, a genetic study of two closely related narrow endemic species was conducted to decipher the evolutionary processes occurring in sect. <i>Phrygia</i> at low scale and to propose the most appropriate conservation strategies. Finally, the study of <i>Centaurea</i> sect. <i>Phrygia</i> has led to the discovery of a new species which was unnoticed in the herbaria for years, <i>Centaurea tripontina</i> Là³pez-Alvarado, L. Sà¡ez, Filigheddu, Guardiola and Susanna.