Integrative taxonomy supports DNA barcoding in revealing an abundant cryptic species in the United States Coastal Plain

Abstract A major obstacle to biodiversity conservation is that thousands, if not millions, of plant and animal species have yet to be discovered and described, even in historically well‐explored regions. Carex sect. Lupulinae (Cyperaceae; “sedges”) is a small group of six showy Eastern North American species that, until recently, was thought to be well understood. However, a DNA barcoding study of North American Carex undertaken over a decade ago serendipitously revealed unsuspected molecular diversity, including one potentially undescribed cryptic species. Here, we test the hypothesis that this entity is a species on a separate evolutionary trajectory by expanding barcoding results with an integrative approach that combines a densely‐sampled molecular phylogeny (five plastid and two nuclear markers, 112 sequenced specimens), morphometric analyses (93 characters, > 300 measured specimens), ecological field surveys, and common greenhouse observations. Results all support the recognition of a new, abundant species common in the southeastern United States′ Coastal Plain that we name Carex gator . This study highlights how integrative taxonomy can help to describe cryptic plant species revealed by DNA barcoding. We provide illustrations, a distribution map, and an identification key, and discuss how C. gator may be a rare example of homoploid sympatric speciation in plants.