Taxonomic resolution of actinorhizal Myrica species from Meghalaya (India) through nuclear rDNA sequence analyses

Three different morphological variants of genus Myrica L. (Myricaceae) are found in Meghalaya, India. There is a dispute regarding their classification. Some authors treat them as two separate species (Myrica nagi Thunb. and Myrica esculenta Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) whereas others feel that M. nagi and M. esculenta are synonyms. In an effort to resolve this dispute, we investigated the nuclear rRNA genes segment of DNA of these variants utilising the amplicon restriction patterns, nucleotide sequences and secondary folding of the 5.8S rRNA. It is proposed that M. nagi and M. esculenta be treated as two separate species.