Overlooked singularity and tiny plants: the Filago desertorum clade (Gnaphalieae,Asteraceae)

Filago desertorum, as traditionally circumscribed, is a species that shows high levels of morphological variation. Previous authors have even suggested that this taxon should represent a heterogeneous assembly of true biological species. A taxonomic revision of the species included in the Filago desertorum clade was performed, and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to explore the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the clade. Three species are recognized in the group, one of which is newly described. A full description of F . castroviejoi sp. nov. , a complete nomenclatural treatment and a key to the species included in the clade are provided. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 742–754.