Taxonomic revision of the genus "Logfia" (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) in the Mediterranean region

Abstract

The genus Logfia Cass. was described by Cassini in 1819 and has always been considered closely related to FilagoL. The species of Logfiahave been frequently included within Filago but, recently, based on morphological characters and DNA sequence analysis it has been demostrated that Logfia is more closely related to the American representatives of the tribe Filagininae than to the genus Filago and the idea that Filago and Logfia should be considered independent genera has been resurrected. In this work, the first complete taxonomic account for the western Mediterranean taxa belonging to Logfia is presented, based on the revision of more than 3400 sheets lodged at 32 herbaria. A detailed description of the genus and a key for the four species present in the study area are proposed. Descriptions of all species together with a complete nomenclatural treatment, as well as indications about habitat preferences, phenology, and geographic distribution are also provided. Additionally nine nomenclatural types are designated, among them, the lectotypes for the accepted names Logfia clementei (Willk.) Holub and Logfia minima (Sm.) Dumort. and the neotype of Logfia heterantha (Raf.) Holub.