Opuntia tehuacana and O. olmeca (Cactaceae, Opuntioideae) are to be considered as ascribed to a single species: morphological and molecular evidences

Opuntia tehuacana and Opuntia olmeca are morphological similarity and have been considered during the time as the same species. However, neither a detailed morphological study nor a phylogenetic assessment has been made to confirm this statement. In fact, although several phylogenetic studies of the genus Opuntia have been carried out, both species have not been sampled to know their phylogenetic relationships. The present study is based on a morphological comparison of the two taxa, based on both live and herborized individuals. A total of eighteen sequences were generated, six ITS, six matK, and six h-nL-F. and a phylogenetic analysis was performed based on Bayesian inference. The results obatined provides evidences that support O. olmeca and O. tehuacana as the same species.

Automated summary

Opuntia tehuacana and Opuntia olmeca have been considered the same species due to their morphological similarity, but detailed studies were lacking. This research indicates that O. olmeca and O. tehuacana might indeed be the same species.