We continue the taxonomic reevaluation of Aphyllon sect. Aphyllon by describing a widespread species throughout Western North America previously recognized within a polyphyletic A. fasciculatum. To support our description and revised key, we analyzed fifteen continuous and discrete characters across 156 herbarium specimens and iNaturalist observations sampled from across the geographic range. Principal component and multiple correspondence analyses reveal clear variation in floral characters. Discriminant analyses show that floral color, the calyx cup to calyx lobe ratio, calyx lobe length, and degree of bend in the corolla tube are useful distinguishing features, but not diagnostic in every case.

Aphyllon_master_data.xlsx

All measurement and observation data used in this study, including georeferencing, herbarium voucher accession numbers, and iNaturalist observation URLs. (Excel format with 3 sheets).

Aphyllon_analyses.R

Annotated R scripts for linear discriminant analysis, multiple correspondence analysis, and discriminant correspondence analysis.

MCA_all.csv

Input data file for multiple correspondence analysis in R (comma separated value format).

MCA_confirmed_host.csv

Subset of MCA_all.csv that includes only samples with known hosts.for multiple correspondence analysis in R (comma separated value format).

PCA_normalized_data.csv

Input (normalized) data file for principal components analysis in python and linear discriminant analysis in R (comma separated value format).

MCA_by_Host.pdf

Multiple correspondence analysis dimensions 1 and 2 showing categorical data sampled from 50 iNaturalist observations of parasites Aphyllon fasciculatum and A. franciscanum, colored by host genus. Triangles indicate the correlation between each character state and each MCA dimension. See Figure 4 of Schneider and Benton 2021. (portable document format).