Taxonomic reassessment of Tolpis (Asteraceae) in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos with description of new species

Abstract

Tolpis (Asteraceae) is a recently diversified genus of flowering plants, centered in the Macaronesian region, where it exhibits striking morphological variation and high levels of endemism. In this study, we focus on the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores (Portugal). The Azores are divided into three biogeographically distinct island groups—western, central, and eastern sub‐archipelagos—which provide a natural framework for studying insular diversification. The number and identity of endemic Tolpis taxa in these islands remain poorly understood. To address this, we integrated recent molecular evidence with a comprehensive morphometric dataset, including 349 specimens from 137 locations across both archipelagos. Based on 61 quantitative and qualitative morphological characters, we re‐circumscribe previously described taxa and formally describe seven new endemic species from the Azores. Consistent morphological differences support the recognition of Tolpis succulenta as endemic to Madeira. Within the Azores, both T. succulenta and T. azorica in their current circumscription display island‐level morphological variation, leading to the recognition of seven newly described endemic taxa.