Species boundaries have traditionally been delimited by applying phenotypic characters to a morphological species concept. With an increased understanding of the complexities of speciation as a process, species concepts have proliferated while at the same time, the ability to gather greater numbers and types of molecular characters has expanded the means by which species can be delimited. Phylogenetic studies of molecular data provide an opportunity to identify reciprocally monophyletic groupsand have led to the identification of cryptic or nearly cryptic species in which subtle differences in phenotypes or ecological niches can be uncovered only after monophyletic groups have been identified. Here, we investigate evolutionary relationships among a group of species in the Lomatium triternatum complex using molecular phylogenetic analyses for all samples, and ecological parameters for two of the 38 species included in this study. The results indicate that there are more reciprocally monophyletic groups in this complex than had been estimated using phenotypic data alone. The ecological data show a clear differentiation for the one pair of sister species where ecological sampling was available, implying that divergence within this group may have resulted from environmental selection for soil preferences that have been strong enough to result in speciation.

Apparent polyphyly within the unresolved clade of Lomatium (Apiaceae) containing L. triternatum, L. anomalum, L. thompsonii, and L. packardiae suggests conflict among current taxonomic classification schemes. To recover this clade and more clearly define species boundaries, we examined populations of L. anomalum from three geographic regions in Idaho and adjacent Oregon. Using phylogenetic, morphological, and ecological data, we conclude that the L. anomalum complex currently circumscribes multiple species. Phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS, and cpDNA rpl32-trnLUAG, rps-16 intron, trnD-trnT, ndhA intron, and psbA-trnH recovered populations from the Boise foothills as a distinct, monophyletic clade. Principal Components Analysis of 30 reproductive and vegetative characters show two distinct groups: one of Boise foothills and one of the combined Mann Creek and Camas Prairie vicinities. Principal Components Analysis of 16 soil characteristics show that soils occupied by Boise foothills populations are distinct from those occupied by Mann Creek and Camas Prairie populations. Based on phylogenetic, morphometric, and ecologic criteria, populations of what had been considered L. anomalum from the Boise foothills and vicinity are here described as a new species—Lomatium andrusianum.