DOI: 10.5061/dryad.d2547d832
title: Morphometric and molecular evidence delimit six species in <em>Clematis reticulata</em> s.l. (Ranunculaceae: <em>Clematis</em> subg. <em>Viorna</em>)

description: Clematis subgenus Viorna of North America currently consists of 21 species
 with most of the diversity found in the southeastern United States. Past
 taxonomic treatments of subg. Viorna have varied greatly, which has led to
 unclear species limits across multiple species complexes. Often recognized
 as a single, polymorphic species with a high degree of ecological
 amplitude, variation in the Clematis reticulata species complex has
 previously been attributed to phenotypic plasticity. A combination of
 herbarium specimen examination and extensive fieldwork led to formation of
 seven a priori morphological groups, or hypothesized taxa, in the C.
 reticulata species complex based on previously used and novel
 morphological characters. We employ an integrative approach to species
 delimitation with data from morphometric studies of herbarium and common
 garden datasets, as well as a phylogeny inferred from ddRADseq. Of the
 seven hypothesized taxa, six were supported by evidence from morphology
 and phylogeny with supporting biogeography, and ecology. Recognition of
 Clematis terminalis sp. nov. renders C. subreticulata comb. nov.
 paraphyletic. Because of its morphological, ecological, and phenological
 distinctiveness, it may represent a case of peripheral speciation by
 isolation. Four new species are recognized: C. arenicola sp. nov., C.
 cumberlandensis sp. nov., C. ouachitensis sp. nov., and C. terminalis sp.
 nov. Viorna subreticulata is given a new combination in Clematis and the
 newly defined C. reticulata s.s. is re-circumscribed. An updated
 dichotomous key, species descriptions, ecological notes, and distribution
 maps are provided.
description: # Morphometric and molecular evidence delimit six species in *Clematis
 reticulata* s.l. (Ranunculaceae: *Clematis* subg. *Viorna*) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.d2547d832](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.d2547d832) ##
 Description of the data and file structure This is the comprehensive
 morphometric dataset for the *Clematis reticulata* species complex. Four
 tabs are present: HERB_FL is from herbarium specimens with flowers,
 HERB_FR is from herbarium specimens with fruits, HERB_VEINS is from vein
 characters collected from herbarium specimens, and GARDEN is all common
 garden data. ### Files and variables #### File:
 Clematis_reticulata_master.xlsx **Description:** Four tabs are present:
 HERB_FL is from herbarium specimens with flowers, HERB_FR is from
 herbarium specimens with fruits, HERB_VEINS is from vein characters
 collected from herbarium specimens, and GARDEN is all common garden data.
 Missing data is indicated with a "NA". ##### Variables * SAMPLE
 is the sample identifier, usually used to indicate the voucher associated
 with an herbarium specimen. * STATE is the USA state abbreviation of where
 the sample originated * COUNTY is the county where the specimen originated
 in each state * GROUP is the hypothesized taxonomic entity as tested in
 the study * INFPOS is a binary 0 or 1 value to indicate inflorescence
 position, 0 being axillary, 1 being terminal. * PDC_PDU is the added
 length of the peduncle and pedicel. Units in mm. * PDU is the length of
 the peduncle. Units in mm. * SPL is the sepal length. Units in mm. * SPW
 is the sepal width. Units in mm. * W90LL is the ratio of the leaf width at
 90% length to the total leaf length. Units is ratio. * PTLU is the
 petiolule length. Units in mm. * ANCOL is the anther connective extension
 length. Units in mm. * STWD is the stem width. Units in mm. * LFTH is a
 value between 0 and 5 (in 0.5 increments) to qualitatively assess relative
 leaf thickness. * TLLF is leaf trichome length. Units in mm. * TLSP is
 sepal trichome length. Units in mm. * ACRT is achene rim width to achene
 width ratio. Units is ratio. * ACLW is achene length to width ratio. Units
 is ratio. * ACTL is achene tail length. Units in mm. * AREAR is areole
 area. Units in mm^2^. * VNWD is vein width. Units in mm.