Notes on the taxonomy of Spiraea aemiliana and related species (Rosaceae) in Russia

Abstract

The diversity of the plants of Spiraea genus, Calospira section in terms of the morphological characters on the basis of 28 natural populations was studied. Two species of Calospira section spirea grow in the Asian part of Russia (S. betulifolia Pall. and S. beauverdiana C.K. Schneid.). S. betulifolia Pall. subsp. aemiliana (C.K. Schneid.) H. Hara subspecies grows on the Islands in the Asian part of Russia (Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands). Its distinctive features are small round or spatulate (obovate) lamina and the absence of the inflorescence follicles pubescence, as well as a few metrical characteristics that may be auxiliary in determining the taxon.