Taxonomic position of the species Galium pseudorivale in the genus Galium (Rubiaceae)

Abstract

The ambiguity of the taxonomic position of Galium pseudorivale Tzvel. necessitated the identification of its status in the genus Galium. A comparative study of the morphological features of vegetative and generative organs of the species G. pseudorivale and representatives of the sections Trachygalium K. Schum. and Asperuloides Pobed. was carried out. For the first time, using a scanning electron microscope, the surface type of the sculpture of the pericarp of fruits of the species G. pseudorivale was established and described. It has been proven that G. pseudorivale is close to the species of the section Trachygalium, and not to the species of the section Asperuloides, where it was assigned earlier.