XVI International Botanical Congess

Two largest subgenera of Lotus are Pedrosia (stylodium dentate) and Edentolotus (with tooth absent). Our study of Lotus creticus, that was placed in subg. Edentolotus, revealed the presence of small, but evident stylodium tooth in all examined specimens. L. creticus is similar to L. cytisoides of subg. Edentolotus and to L. pseudocreticus of subg. Pedrosia in the combination of important taxonomic features. The possible solution is to transfer L. creticus into subg. Pedrosia. On the other hand, stylodium tooth could be the structure multiply arisen in Lotus, and then Pedrosia could be artificial group. Perhaps the molecular methods could solve the problem.