Phylogeny and taxonomy of Poa (Poaceae, Pooideae, Poeae, Poinae) in Turkey (Part I): The Poa bulbosa complex, polyphyly, lineage relationships, and a new subgenus Alpinae

We present a phylogeny and taxonomy of Poa in Turkey, focusing on 20 bulbous species endemic to Western Eurasia and North Africa and their relationships. Bulbs and bulbifery, their morphology, evolution, ecology, and distribution are discussed. Phylogenetic analyses of plastid ( matK+trnC-rpoB+trnT-L-F ) and nrDNA (ETS + ITS) regions revealed a strongly supported clade structure within Poa . Bulbs appear in at least four independent clades, revealing that the Poa bulbosa complex s.l . is polyphyletic. Reproduction by bulbifery is prevalent in two of these clades. As there appears to be limited DNA variation and evidence of reticulation within the clade that contains P. alpina and P. bulbosa , a new Poa subg. Alpinae is proposed to include all members of Poa bulbosa complex s.s . (P. sect. Arenariae s.s.) and all P. sect. Alpinae members within two series within P. sect. Alpinae. A full taxonomic account is provided for the bulbous species within Turkey, along with notes on all taxa of the broader Poa bulbosa complex s.s . and s.l . occurring outside of Turkey, including new native and introduction records for several countries. Descriptions and diagnoses are presented for bulbous species and some key relatives. Illustrations are provided for several Turkish bulbous taxa, along with a key to bulbous taxa in Turkey and Greece. Nomenclature and taxonomy include new infrageneric taxonomic names and arrangements in P. sect. Iconiae, P. sect. Oreopoa, P. subg. Alpinae; new species and infraspecific combinations, including P. bactriana subsp. nevskii, P. bactriana subsp. nevskii, P. bactriana var. tzveleviana, P. bulbosa var. perligulata and var. scholziana, and P. sinaica subsp. reuteriana; new taxa, including P. bulbosa var. cabiana, P. girdevensis , P. sinaica subsp. and var. pamphyliensis and var. prolifera; and replacement names, including P. bactriana var. spicata and P. balansae . Lectotypes are designated for: P. alpina var. polystachya, P. bulbosa var. elanata, P. bulbosa var. vivipara (and an epitype), P. controversa , P. desertorum , P. diversifolia var. crassipes, P. diversifolia var. hartmannii, P. dshilgensis , P. eigii , P. glabriflora fo. albida, P. glabriflora fo. sericea, P. gracilis , P. hackelii , P. longifolia subsp. meyeri, P. macroglossa , P. montana , P. nevskii fo. s ubglabra , P. paryadrica , P. pseudobulbosa , P. sinaica , P. sinaica var. aegyptica, P. sinaica var. glabrescens, P. sinaica subsp. moabitica, and P. vaginata .