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Western Kentucky University

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2005

Mentha longifolia (European horsemint)

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Does Genertic Variation Support Geographical And Morphological Patterns? A Phylogentic Interpretation Of Mentha Longifolia (Lamiaceae) Using Molecular Data, Kate L. Hertwick Jan 2005

Does Genertic Variation Support Geographical And Morphological Patterns? A Phylogentic Interpretation Of Mentha Longifolia (Lamiaceae) Using Molecular Data, Kate L. Hertwick

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Traditional taxonomic studies ofMentha longifolia (European horsemint) have utilized geographical and morphological criteria to classify and define the species. This has led to the recognition of 22 different M longifolia subspecies from Europe, the Middle East, central Asia, and southern Africa. Using nucleotide sequences of chloroplast and nuclear DNA regions of 23 accessions of M. longifolia, we assessed levels of genetic divergence to determine if discrete groupings exist. The results ofthis phylogeographic study indicate that there is sufficient variation among samples to warrant splitting of M. longifolia into several different taxa. For example, two subspecies from South Africa share distinct …