Identity of Lantana depressa and L. ovatifolia (Verbenaceae) of Florida and the Bahamas

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Abstract
The delimitations of Lantana depressa and L. ovatifolia are reviewed using field studies, common garden plantings, morphology, chromosome numbers, and artificial hybridization. Thirteen morphological characters were incorporated in a principal components analysis. Lantana depressa, a diploid (2n = 22), is restricted to native vegetation on dunes, coastal prairies, and limestone ridges in peninsular Florida. The species comprises three varieties Lantana depressa var. floridana, comb. nov. (Lantana bahamensis var. floridana), and L. depressa var. sanibelensis var. nov., previously had been unrecognized and treated as elements of L. ovatifolia. Lantana ovatifolia, a tetraploid (2n = 44), is endemic to Grand Bahama Island. Confusion between the species involves naturalized L. camara, a tetraploid (2n = 44), which has hybridized with L. depressa. The triploid (2n = 33) hybrids resemble L. ovatifolia and form a morphological continuum between the parental taxa.

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