On the taxonomy ofPuccinia sieversiae Arth. and some remarks on the phylogeny of the rusts onGeeae

Puccinia tatrensis Urban onGeum reptans in Czechoslovakia is recognized as a subspecies ofPuccinia sieversiae Arth.Puccinia waldsteiniae, P. gei andP. gei-parviflori appear to be the most ancient rusts known on the tribeGeeae and it is assumed that their common ancestral form was already present in the Cretaceous period.Puccinia sieversiae is more advanced and has its centre of origin and spread in Central Asia. Phylogenetically most advanced and at the same time most differentiated from each other are species ofPhragmidium, i.e.P. circumvallatum andP. miyabeanum.