title: DNA barcoding exposes a case of mistaken identity in the fern horticultural trade.
abstract: Using cheilanthoid ferns, we provide an example of how DNA barcoding approaches can be useful to the horticultural community for keeping plants in the trade accurately identified. We use plastid rbcL, atpA, and trnG-R sequence data to demonstrate that a fern marketed as Cheilanthes wrightii (endemic to the southwestern USA and northern Mexico) in the horticultural trade is, in fact, Cheilanthes distans (endemic to Australia and adjacent islands). Public and private (accessible with permission) databases contain a wealth of DNA sequence data that are linked to vouchered plant material. These data have uses beyond those for which they were originally generated, and they provide an important resource for fostering collaborations between the academic and horticultural communities. We strongly advocate the barcoding approach as a valuable new technology available to the horticulture industry to help correct plant identification errors in the international trade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, 2024 West Main St., Suite A200, Durham, NC 27705, USA Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden, 9241 Sauls Road, Raleigh, NC 27603, USA 9715 Chirtsey Way, Bakersfield, CA 93312, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pryer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schuettpelz
authors.forename: Layne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huiet
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Grusz
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rothfels
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Avent
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Windham