DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rw0
title: Data from: Disentangling complex relationships and disjunctions in western <em>Camassia:</em> Integrating multiple criteria to resolve taxonomic boundaries

description: In a changing world, understanding variability helps sustain landscapes
 and develop effective species concepts for resolving difficult groups. To
 unravel puzzling relationships and range disjunctions, we applied
 morphometrics, phenology, phylogenetics, and population genetics in
 Camassia species with cultural, ecological, and conservation value,
 asking: Do the unusual Camassia populations in northeastern California
 represent previously unrecognized, disjunct C. howellii? Do C. howellii,
 C. leichtlinii, and C. quamash maintain diagnostic features in allopatry
 or sympatry? Are C. quamash ssp. breviflora and C. quamash ssp. linearis
 taxonomically distinct? We evaluated 34 Camassia populations in-situ for
 morphometric traits, phenology, and habitat type, collecting tissue for
 population microsatellite and phylogenetic analyses (rpl16, trnD-trnT).
 Fieldwork and genetic analyses of Camassia species allowed
 hypothesis-testing of all criteria. Populations of Oregon and California
 C. howellii shared 94-95% morphospace but differed significantly from C.
 leichtlinii and C. quamash, primarily in having more basal leaves,
 sub-globose fruits, and smaller flowers that open in mid-late afternoon,
 closing at sunset without reopening. Both microsatellite and phylogenetic
 data indicated separation of the three species, with slight genetic
 differentiation between the disjunct populations of C. howellii.
 Subspecies of C. quamash differ morphologically and genetically, with
 clear phylogenetic separation. Integrative approaches proved effective,
 affirming disputed species identities and upholding subspecific status for
 C. quamash ssp. linearis. For C. howellii, population genetic
 differentiation between disjunct regions appears congruent with
 phylogenetic analyses. Slight morphological differentiation of Oregon and
 California populations is consistent with geographic isolation, implying
 subspecific genetic divergence worthy of future study.
description: # Data from: Disentangling complex relationships and disjunctions in
 western *Camassia:* Integrating multiple criteria to resolve taxonomic
 boundaries Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rw0](10.5061/dryad.3n5tb2rw0)
 ## Description of the data and file structure In this file are figures and
 tables related to the genetic and morphology study of western *Camassia*
 species in Oregon and Northern California. These items are referenced in
 the manuscript as Supplemental Information 2 and Dryad Figures. This
 information is available through Zenondo. The raw microsatellite data file
 is available on Dryad. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Camassia_SSR_Data_Kephart_etal_2025.xlsx **Description:** Excel file of
 the microsatellite data for 13 loci across *Camassia* species and
 populations. Contact [theresa.culley@uc.edu](mailto:theresa.culley@uc.edu)
 for questions. #### File: AppendixS2__FigS1.pdf **Description:** PDF file
 of Figure S1 in the supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plot of 10
 informative flowering traits in paired analysis of *C. howellii* and
 putative *C. howellii* versus *C. leichtlinii* ssp. *suksdorfii*. ####
 File: AppendixS2__FigS2.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure S2 in the
 supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plot of flowering plants in the
 California Floristic Province for nine informative traits in paired
 analysis of *C. howellii*, putative *C. howellii*, and *C. quamash* ssp.
 *breviflora*. #### File: AppendixS2__FigS3.pdf **Description:** PDF file
 of Figure S3 in the supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plot of of
 flowering plants in broad-ranging western sites for 10 flowering traits in
 paired analysis of *C. howellii*, putative *C. howellii* in California,
 and *C. quamash* ssp. *breviflora*. #### File: AppendixS2__FigS4.pdf
 **Description:** PDF file of Figure S4 in the supplemental
 appendix. Morphometric PCA plot of informative fruiting traits in a paired
 analysis of *C. howellii*, putative *C. howellii* in California, and *C.
 leichtlinii*. #### File: AppendixS2__FigS5AB.pdf **Description:** PDF file
 of Figure S5A and S5B in the supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plot
 of informative fruiting traits of *C. howellii*,  putative C*. howellii
 *in California*,* and *C. quamash* ssp. *breviflora*. #### File:
 AppendixS2__FigS6.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure S6 in the
 supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plot of nine informative flowering
 traits for putative *C. howellii* in California, *C. howellii*, *C.
 leichtlinii* ssp. *suksdorfii,* *C. quamash* ssp. *breviflora.* #### File:
 AppendixS2__FigS7AB.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure S7A AND S7B in
 the supplemental appendix. Morphometric PCA plots of fruiting traits of
 *C. quamash*. #### File: AppendixS2__FigS8.pdf **Description:** PDF file
 of Figure S8 in the supplemental appendix. Genetic Principal Coordinates
 Analysis (PCoA) plots of *C. quamash* ssp. *linearis* and *C. q.* ssp
 *breviflora*. #### File: DryadFig_D1.pdf **Description:** PDF file of
 Figure D1 in the Dryad set of figures. Morphometric PCA plot of seven
 informative fruiting traits, based on analysis of all five Oregon *C.
 howellii* sites. #### File: DryadFig_D2.pdf **Description:** PDF file of
 Figure D2 in the Dryad set of figures. All dates and sites for estimating
 floral time span of open (green) or closed (grey) flowers in 17
 populations of NE California and SW Oregon *Camassia*. #### File:
 DryadFig_D3.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure D3 in the Dryad set of
 figures. Morphometric PCA plot of flowering traits for sites in the CFP of
 California and Oregon with putative *C. howellii*, *C. howellii*, *C.
 leichtlinii* ssp. *suksdorfii*, and *C. quamash* ssp. *breviflora*. ####
 File: DryadFig_D4.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure D4 in the Dryad
 set of figures. Genetic Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) by population
 including all individuals of *C. quamash* ssp. *linearis* and *C. q.* ssp.
 *breviflora* in the California Floristic Province. #### File:
 DryadFig_D5.pdf **Description:** PDF file of Figure D5 in the Dryad set of
 figures. Morphometric PCA plots of *C. quamash* fruiting traits. ####
 File: HogueMeadow_Cqwalpolei-IMG_2967.jpg **Description:** Images of
 *Camassia quamash* subspecies *walpolei* ## Code/software Files are in PDF
 format, generated originally from PowerPoint via R analyses. ## Access
 information Other publicly accessible locations of the data: * None Data
 was derived from the following sources: * R software