Semple, J.C., T. Shea, H. Rahman, Y. Ma, and K. Kornobis. 2016. A multivariate study of the Solidago sempervirens complex (Asteraceae: Astereae: S. subsect. Maritimae ). Phytoneuron 2016-73. 1-31. Published 7 November 2016. ISSN 2153 733X A MULTIVARIATE STUDY OF THE SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS COMPLEX (ASTERACEAE: ASTEREAE: SOLIDAGO SUBSECT. MARITIMAE ) 1 JOHN C. SEMPLE , TROINA SHEA , HAMMAD RAHMAN , YUNFEI MA, AND KATHERINE KORNOBIS Department of Biology University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2L 3G1
[email protected] 1Present address: CH2M, Calgary, Alberta, Canada ABSTRACT A multivariate morphometric study of the Solidago sempervirens complex of S. subsect. Maritimae was performed to assess statistical support for recognizing S. azorica , S. maya , S. mexicana , S. paniculata and S. sempervirens as separate species. Specimens of S. virgata of the S. stricta complex of subsect. Maritimae were also included in some analyses. Nine analyses were run, including all or only some of the species. In several analyses, eastern and western specimens of S. mexicana were split into two a priori groups. Solidago paniculata and S. azorica were determined to be the most distinct species in the complex based on both leaf and floral traits. Solidago maya was found to be most similar to eastern specimens of S. mexicana and to some specimens of S. virgata from the southeastern USA. Solidago maya has the lowest leaf density in the complex and has inflorescences that are sometimes not apically secund. All species of the S. sempervirens complex occur at 0-40 m elevations in coastal plain moist soils and coastal marshes and dunes with the exception of S.