Phytologia (May 2013) 95(2) 202 Analysis of Juniperus phoenicea from throughout its range in the Mediterranean using DNA sequence data from nrDNA and petN-psbM: The case for the recognition of J. turbinata Guss. Robert P. Adams Biology Department, Baylor University, Box 97388, Waco, TX 76798, USA Robert_Adams@baylor.edu Adam Boratynski Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Dendrology, 5 Parkowa St., 62-035 Kornik, Poland Montserrat Arista Departamento Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apdo. 1095, E-41080 Sevilla, Spain Andrea E. Schwarzbach Department of Biomedicine, University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA. Hagar Leschner Collection Manager, The Herbarium (HUJ), The National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Giv'at Ram, Jerusalem 91904 Israel Zlatko Liber Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulicev trg 9A, Zagreb, Croatia Pietro Minissale Università di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Vegetale, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy Tugrul Mataraci Eskidji Muz. AS, Sanayi Caddesi Vadi Sokak No. 2, Yenibosna-Bahcelievler, Istanbul, Turkey and Avramakis Manolis Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Knossou Ave., P. O. Box 2208, 71409 Heraklion. Crete, Greece ABSTRACT DNA sequences were analyzed from 19 populations of J. phoenicea from throughout its range. The sequence data (nrDNA, petN-psbM) revealed that J. phoenicea is clearly divided into two taxa. These taxa have been recognized as var. (subsp.) phoenicea and var. (subsp.) turbinata by Adams (2011) and Farjon (2005). However, the magnitude of the differences in the DNA regions, along with the differences in pollen shedding times, morphology and prodelphinidin content support the recognition of J. turbinata Guss. No differentiation was found between the typical Mediterranean and Canary Island populations, offering no support for the recognition of J. phoenicea subsp. canariensis (Guyot) Rivas- Martinez. Juniperus turbinata appears to be widespread from Madeira - Canary Islands to the Sinai with few DNA differences among most populations. However, some populations (Grazalema, Madeira, Sinai, central Italy) had moderate amounts of divergence (3-4 mutations) and warrant additional study. Published on-line www.phytologia.org Phytologia 95(2): 202-209 (May 1, 2013). KEY WORDS: Juniperus phoenicea var. phoenicea, var. turbinata, Juniperus turbinata, phylogeny, Cupressaceae, DNA, nrDNA (ITS), petN-psbM, geographic variation.