RELIC OR RECRUIT? NEWLY DISCOVERED ARONIAARBUTIFOLIA (ELL.) PERS. (RED CHOKEBERRY) IN KENT COUNTY RAISES QUESTIONS REGARDING PAST AND FUTURE DISTRIBUTIONS

摘要

The nomenclatural history of the genus Aronia is replete with name changes, misidentifications, and debates regarding classification. In Michigan, collections of Aronia arbutifolia (Ell.) Pers. (Red chokeberry) from the early 20th century are thought to be misidentifications of Aronia prunifolia (Marsh.) Rehder (Purple chokeberry). A recent discovery of A. arbutifolia in West Michigan could represent a rare species that has naturally occurred in Michigan in the past or an adventive individual that has only recently arrived. We provide documentation of the new state record and discuss its discovery in the context of earlier ambiguous records of Red chokeberry in the Great Lakes region. We also consider whether this species is exhibiting a coastal plain disjunct distribution, and we examine the possibility that Red chokeberry is expanding its range in response to climate change. Future genetic research and molecular analysis could help answer some of the questions raised by this interesting discovery in Michigan.