Taxonomic Studies of Oryza II. Several Species Complexes

Abstract

Taxonomy of several species complexes was discussed on the basis of the examination of specimens preserved in various herbaria in Europe, the United States and Japan. The following results were obtained. (1) The wild plants belonging to O. sativa complex should be divided into two species, O. rufipogon and O. barthii. O. rufipogon includes the Asiatic and American plants, and O. barthii comprises the African plants. O. madagascariensis is identical with O. barthii and should be referred to the latter as a synonym. (2) O. stapfii is most reasonably referred to O. breviligulata as a synonym. (3) O. longiglumis is distinguished from O. ridleyi in the combination of several morphological characters and is maintained as a separate species. (4) O. granulata is connected with O. meyeriana by a considerable number of intermediates. Eight types have been recognized in this species complex, and they should be brought into one species, O. meyeriana. Subdivision of O. meyeriana into three subspecies has been proposed, and some nomenclatural transfer was given.