Conservation genetics and taxonomic status of the rare Kentucky lady's slipper: Cypripedium kentuckiense (Orchidaceae)

Cypripedium kentuckiense is a recently described rare orchid found in Arkansas (predominantly) and in eight other states. Much debate has focused on whether this taxon should be recognized as a distinct species or considered to be an extreme manifestation of the variability present in the widespread taxon Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens. In this study, 12 isozyme loci were analyzed for 14 populations of C. parviflorum var. pubescens and eight populations of C. kentuckiense. These data were used to examine the genetic similarity of these taxa, assess whether isozyme data support the continued recognition of C. kentuckiense as a distinct species, and assess whether a newly discovered disjunct Virginia population of C. kentuckiense is genetically isolated from other C. kentuckiense populations. The isozyme data revealed that the two taxa are very closely related with a high interspecific genetic identity. However, C. kentuckiense populations contain a subset of the variation present in C. parviflorum var. pubescens, and they have expected levels of heterozygosity that are one-quarter that of C. parviflorum var. pubescens populations. Cypripedium kentuckiense also possesses one widespread unique allele and a unique multilocus genotype. These data suggest that C. kentuckiense should be recognized as a distinct species, possibly of recent origin from C. parviflorum. Lastly, the isozyme data support the hypothesis that gene flow between the Virginia population and other populations of C. kentuckiense has been restricted.