Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W. BARTON is an evergreen half-shrub occurring principally in the coniferous forests of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This species has been divided into five geographically delimited infraspecific taxa: (1) subsp. occidentalis (RYDB.) HULT.-western North America, (2) subsp, acuta (RYDB.) HULT-Arizona and New Mexico, (3) subsp. mexicana (DC.) HULT.-Mexico, (4) subsp. cisatlantica (BLAKE) HULT.-eastern North America, (5) subsp. umbellata-Eurasia (Fig. 1). In order to clarify taxonomic features of each taxon and relationships among them, the following characters are examined on over 300 herbarium specimens: number of flowers inflorescence length, stem diameter, blade length, blade length/blade width, sepal length, sepal length/sepal width, anther length, capsule diameter, number of serrations, distinctness of leaf veins, shape of leaf apex, degree of pedicel and ovary vestment (Figs. 2, 4, Table 1). furthermore the morphological similarities among 13 local populations of this species are considered, based on a comparison among polygraphs of eight characters and a principal component analysis using nine characters (Figs. 3, 5, 6, Table 2). (1) Subsp. occidentalis is characterized in having shrubby thick stems (2.5-3.5 mm diam., rarely over 5.0 mm), 4-7 flowered corymobose-racemose inflorescences, oblanceolate acute leaves (blade length/width ratio 2.8-4.2, 4-6 cm long) with 8-13 serrations on one side and obscure veins, and depressed deltoid sepals (1.5-2.2 mm long, usually broader than long) (Fig. 2). Among seven populations within this subspecies, California population is somewhat similar to subsp. mexicana, and Wyoming & Utah population shows some similarities to subsp. acuta and subsp. cisatlantica (Figs. 3, 5, 6). (2) Subsp. acuta is slightly distinguished from subsp. occidentalis by having narrowly oblanceolate leaves (blade length/width ratio 4.2-5.3) with few serrations (5-7), deltoid and long sepals (2.0-2.8 mm long, usually longer than broad), large anthers and capsules (Fig. 2). This subspecies may be deviated from subsp. occidentalis in the shape of leaves and the size of flowers and fruits. (3) Subsp. mexicana is slightly distinguished from subsp. occidentalis by having somewhat large leaves (4.2-6.6 cm long) with many serrations (8+16) and definite veins, deltoid and long sepals (1.9-3.0 mm long, usually longer than broad), large anthers and capsules (Figs. 2, 4). This subspecies is allied to subsp. occidentalis and slightly differentiated from it in size of leaves, flowers and fruits. (4) Subsp. cisatlantica stands intermediate between subsp. occidentalis and subsp. umbellata from the morphological similarities (Figs. 2, 4), though it is more closely allied to the former subspecies based on the principal component analysis (Figs. 5, 6). (5) Subsp. umbellata is distinguished from subsp. occidentalis by having thin stems (1.8-2.7 mm diam.), 3-5 flowered umbellate inflorescences, short oblanceolate obtuse leaves (blade length/width ratio 2.5-3.5, 3-4 cm long) with few serrations (6-9) and distinct veins, small anthers and capsules, and densely puberulent pedicel and ovary (Figs 2, 4). Within this subspecies European population is more similar to subsp. cisatlantica than East Asia population in having more acutish leaves with obscure veins and larger anthers (Figs. 3, 5, 6). (6) Relationships among five subspecies are summarized in Fig. 7 based on the morphological similarities. Neighboring two taxa connected by a line in Fig. 7 are slightly differentiated from each other because the variation ranges of the most characters in one taxon overlap with those of the other taxon. On the other hand the two taxa mediated by the other one or two taxa; e.g. between subsp. umbellata and the three subspp. acuta, mexicana, and occidentalis, are more differentiated from each other than the extent that exists between the two taxa connected by a line. (7) The following gradual changes i
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