Unveiling Plant Diversity: Harmonizing Molecular and Morphological Taxonomy

Plant taxonomy sits at the heart of biodiversity science, yet the boundaries of many species and species aggregates remain unresolved. Morphologically complex groups — where diagnostic characters are few and variation is continuous — have long resisted stable classification, and reliance on morphology alone has produced conflicting treatments, misapplied names, and polyphyletic taxa. Advances in phylogenomics, DNA barcoding, and quantitative morphometrics now allow researchers to test these classifications directly, while biogeographical and ecological data add an independent line of evidence. Even so, molecular and morphological datasets are too often analysed in isolation, and their integration into a coherent systematic and nomenclatural framework lags behind. This gap is especially acute in species-rich, taxonomically neglected floras such as those of the Mediterranean Basin and Western Asia, where historical treatments frequently fail to capture true lineage diversity.This Research Topic addresses a central problem in systematic botany: how to reconcile molecular and morphological evidence to deliver taxonomic treatments that are both phylogenetically sound and nomenclaturally stable. Too often, phylogenomic results and morphological observations point in different directions, leaving species limits, ranks, and names contested. We aim to build a platform where integrative approaches — combining phylogenomics, DNA barcoding, morphometrics, cytogenetics, and biogeography — are used together to delimit species, resolve species aggregates, and refine classifications at and below the genus level. A recent treatment of the Mediterranean and Western Asian Frankenia hirsuta aggregate, which merges molecular, morphological, and biogeographical data to propose a more satisfactory systematic and nomenclatural solution, exemplifies the evidence-based, multi-source work this topic seeks to gather. By bringing together case studies, methodological advances, and critical discussions of polyphyly and reclassification, the topic supports the Plant Systematics and Evolution section’s mission to understand the mechanisms driving lineage diversification and to underpin biodiversity conservation.We welcome contributions that integrate two or more independent lines of evidence to advance plant systematics, taxonomy, and species delimitation, from local complexes to broad clades. Purely descriptive studies lacking an integrative or evolutionary framework fall outside the scope. Themes include, but are not limited to:• Integrative species delimitation combining molecular and morphological evidence• Phylogenomics and DNA barcoding for taxonomic resolution• Quantitative morphometrics and character evolution in complex groups• Resolving species aggregates, cryptic species, and polyphyletic taxa• Nomenclatural and typification treatments supported by multi-source data• Biogeography and cytogenetics as complementary evidence for classification• Taxonomy of under-studied Mediterranean and Western Asian florasWe welcome contributions from researchers across the field, and we are glad to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like early feedback on whether your planned manuscript fits the scope of this Research Topic, please write to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. A quick check at this stage helps confirm your work is a strong fit and can save you time later in the process.To take part, click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page, then confirm through the “Participate” link in the follow-up email. This lets us know to expect your contribution, keeps you informed of key deadlines, and gives you access to resources that guide you through submission. We look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant, cohesive Research Topic together. Topic editors: Manuel B. Crespo, Evgeny V. Mavrodiev, Lorenzo Peruzzi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85008/unveiling-plant-diversity-harmonizing-molecular-and-morphological-taxonomy