Amphicarpaea bracteata cryptic speciation. Amphicarpaea bracteata

Amphicarpaea bracteata, a common legume native to woodlands in North America, has long been recognized by botanists as having extreme variation in leaf characteristics, particularly leaf shape and hairiness. This study demonstrates that A. bracteata is actually comprised of three genetically distinct groups. We further show that these groups have acquired genetic factors that will limit successful hybridization and genetic exchange among groups. Our results show that rather than being one highly variable species, A. bracteata is instead composed of three reproductively isolated, cryptic taxa, and call for a taxonomic revision of the species.