engleski

Fruit and seed morphology of Iris populations along the Croatian coast and its taxonomic implications

Morphological features of fruits and seeds were used to determine the value of these features for their use in taxonomy of Iris illyrica Tomm., Iris pseudopallida Trinajstić and related species. The material was collected within 16 populations along the Adriatic coast, of which 11 associated to I. illyrica and 5 to I. pseudopallida. 3 comparative samples of I. cengialti Ambr. and I. pallida Lam. were added. Total sample size was 203 fruits and 2030 seeds. 6 seed characteristics (length, width and thickness ; shape, funiculus and colour) and 4 fruit characteristics (height, perimeter, capsule thickness and number of grooves) were examined. The data was analysed by standard statistical methods and multivariate analysis. Most of observed data showed clinal transformation and only few showed some grouping. While observing all the features together using multivariate analysis, there exists no strict separation between species, but rather grouping of populations depending on their position within the areal of the species. Two groups are formed by populations on opposite ends of areals of I. illyrica and I. pseudopallida species, while the central combined group is represented by populations from central and southern part of I. illyrica areal and northern part of I. pseudopallida areal. Compared to other studies, the results reflect these irises as very closely related and still in the course of speciation.

Iris illyrica; Iris pseudopallida; morphology; taxonomy; Croatia

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