基于分子和形态学证据确定传统中药白花蛇舌草及其替代品的学名

Nomenclature Clarification of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Baihuasheshecao and Its Adulterants Based on Molecular and Morphological Evidence

摘要:

白花蛇舌草是我国重要的传统中药，主要是指茜草科（Rubiaceae）钮扣草族（Spermacoceae）的Oldenlandia diffusa，但伞房花耳草（O. corymbosa）在民间或中药市场也常被作为替代品使用。由于长期以来Hedyotis-Oldenlandia 复合群的分类存在许多争论，因此白花蛇舌草有时被归入非洲耳草属（Oldenlandia L.），有时又作为广义耳草属（Hedyotis L. s. l.）的成员。为了澄清白花蛇舌草命名上的问题，基于7 个叶绿体片段和2 个核基因片段对钮扣草族85 个分类群进行了系统发育分析。结果表明，白花蛇舌草不属于以上两属中的任何一属，而应为蛇舌草属[Scleromitrion（Wight & Arn.）Meisn.]的成员。依此结果，对5 种植物进行了新组合，并提供了白花蛇舌草和伞房花耳草的形态学比较，以有助于在实践中更好地进行区分。

Abstract:

Baihuasheshecao is one of the important traditional Chinese medicines and mainly refers to Oldenlandia diffusa but can be adulterated with O. corymbosa in commercial and folk herbal medicine. Because of the longtime taxonomic debate and confusion about the taxonomy of Hedyotis-Oldenlandia complex, the scientific names of Baihuasheshecao components were treated under the genus of either Oldenlandia or Hedyotis in practice. In order to clarify the nomenclatural confusion, a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted on basis of seven plastid loci and two nuclear gene regions from the selected 85 taxa in the tribe Spermacoceae (Rubiaceae). The results demonstrated that O. diffusa should not be a member of Oldenlandia L. but Scleromitrion (Wight & Arn.) Meisn. Five new combinations are accordingly made and a detailed comparison between the two species is provided for identification in future practice.