| Calceolaria L. (Calceolariaceae) is a large, mainly Andean genus of herbs or shrubs distributed from Mexico to Chile and Argentina. Within the monophyletic section Calceolaria, the C. tripartita complex is revised using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) of morphological characters. Up to four species have been recognized previously within this complex: C. tripartita, C. chelidonioides, C. mandoniana, and C. rivularis. Calceolaria aquatica was also included, although regularly considered outside the clade, because of its resemblance to C. rivularis. In this study, three taxa were recognized based on floral characters: C. aquatica, C. rivularis and C. tripartita. Calceolaria mandoniana and C. chelidonioides were clustered within C. tripartita so they are reduced to synonyms under it. The variation of C. tripartita s. s. was also studied along throughout its distributional range. No subspecies or varieties were recognizable. A key to the species studied, descriptions, and illustrations are also provided. |
