Berberis burruyacuensis O. R. Dantur, S. Radice, E. Giordani, A. Papini sp. nov. (Berberidaceae): a new species

A new species of Berberis L. from the region of Tucumán (Argentina), locally known as “sacha mikuna”, was described as Berberis burruyacuensis. The phylogenetic position was evaluated with ITS DNA sequences, particularly with respect to B. mikuna and other Berberis species of West-South America. The autonomy of the species, beyond the observed morphological and phenological traits, was confirmed through high maximum likelihood bootstrap values and bayesian support. Moreover, a 3 nucleotides insertion, together with two transversions and one transition, characterizes B. burruyacuensis ITS1 DNA region with respect to the rest of the species of the genus. B. burruyacuensis clustered in a very interesting position, that is as an outgroup to the rest of the South American species of Berberis. This position may suggest for this species the maintenance of relatively plesiomorphic characters with respect to the rest of the clade.