The biogeography and origin of alpine taxa in the montane / alpine European endemic Soldanella (Primulaceae )

Abstract

Soldanella is well-characterised by its laciniate petal lobes. The 16 species of this genus are distributed across all major European high mountain ranges. Based on morphological evidence, the genus can be subdivided into two sections: Sect. Soldanella contains 14 species and except for S. villosa from the Cordillera Cantabrica and the W Pyrenees is centred in SE Europe. In contrast to this, the two species of sect. Tubiflores are found mainly in the Alps. The morphological subdivision of the genus is paralleled by the ecology of the two sections. Whereas most species of sect. Soldanella inhabit montane forest floor habitats, the species of sect. Tubiflores have an alpine ecology. The major exception to this is S. alpina which as a member of sect. Soldanella grows at alpine altitudes.