19. COMPARING THE GEORGIA ENDEMIC CALYCANTHUS BROCKIANA (CALYCANTHACEAE) AND CALYCANTHUS FLORIDUS L. (CALYCANTHACEAE) USING ITS AND MATK

Abstract

This project seeks to compare the genetic sequences of the native shrubs Calycanthus floridus L. and Calycanthus brockiana Ferry & Ferry using the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and the chloroplast matK marker. Currently Alan Weakley’s Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States(2015) lists two species within the genus: C. floridus and the northeast Georgia endemic C. brockiana. The genetic analysis of the two purported species will allow us to suggest either that they remain separate species or that they be combined. As a secondary goal, the project will attempt to create a phylogenetic tree showing the relationship between the genera in the Family Calycanthaceae. C. floridus is a highly variable woody shrub native to the East coast of the United States. Due to the variance in the leaf shape, overall pubescence, and color of the flowers, the genus Calycanthus has been split into many different species (Small, 1933, Radford et al., 1968) and varieties outside of cultivation over the years and then grouped back together by various authors, so another secondary goal will be to specifically focus on C. floridus with the hope of determining if the genus is made up of many separate cryptic species of plant rather than one or two variable species.