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A BIOSYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE POLYGONUM HYDROPIPEROIDES (POLYGONACEAE) COMPLEX
Author(s) -
McDonald Charles B.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1980.tb07697.x
Subject(s) - biology , polygonaceae , polygonum , botany , hybrid , population , chromosome number , chromosome , genetics , ecology , karyotype , gene , demography , sociology
The Polygonum hydropiperoides complex includes P. hydropiperoides Michx., P. opelousanum Riddell ex Small, P. setaceum Baldwin ex Ell., and P. hisutum Walter. Studies of morphology, cytology, and crossing compatibility were conducted with specimens from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A multivariate cluster analysis using 212 specimens and 34 characters indicated that P. hirsutum and P. setaceum are each morphologically distinct while P. hydropiperoides and P. opelousanum are morphologically indistinct from one another. The chromosome counts of 2 n = 20 for P. setaceum and P. hirsutum , and 2 n = 40 for P. hydropiperoides and P. opelousanum are the first reported for the respective species. Experimental hybridizations produced the fertile hybrids P. hydropiperoides x opelousanum and P. setaceum × hirsutum . Results of these studies and population structure, habitat, and pollination studies suggest that P. hydropiperoides, P. setaceum , and P. hirsutum are each distinct species while P. opelousanum is indistinct and should be merged with P. hydropiperoides .