MORPHOLOGICAL, PALYNOLOGICAL, AND MOLECULAR STUDIES ON PSEUDERUCARIA CLAVATA (BOISS. & REUT.) O. E. SCHULZ (1916) (BRASSICALES, BRASSICACEAE) IN EGYPT

No detailed morphological, palynological, or molecular studies had previously been conducted on Pseuderucaria clavata (Boiss. & Reut.) O. E. Schulz (1916) (Brassicales, Brassicaceae). This species exhibits two distinct forms with different flower colors: violet and white. A taxonomic revision of these color forms identified two subspecies Pseuderucaria clavata (Boiss. & Reut.) O. E. Schulz subsp. clavata (1916), and P. clavata subsp. tourneuxii (Cross.) Maire (1933). Molecular study using the chloroplast barcoding markers rbcL and matK to elucidate the taxonomic relationships approved, and supported that the two color forms represent two different subspecies. The sequences of the two confirmed subspecies have been documented and deposited in the global database under the accession numbers OR573855, OR573856, OR573857, OR573858, OR573859, OR573860, OR636847, OR636848, OR636849, OR636850, OR636851, and OR636852. Additionally, the analysis of pollen grains characteristics in both subspecies confirmed the high taxonomic value of pollen features.