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Leaf polymorphism in Ranunculus nanus Hook. (Ranunculaceae)
Author(s) -
MENADUE Y.,
CROWDEN R. K.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00398.x
Subject(s) - biology , ranunculus , petiole (insect anatomy) , ranunculaceae , phenotypic plasticity , leaf size , botany , confusion , range (aeronautics) , ecology , genus , psychology , materials science , psychoanalysis , composite material
SUMMARY The Tasmanian endemic species Ranunculus nanus Hook, has variable leaf morphology, the range of which frequently overlaps that of other co‐occurring Ranunculus species. Thus, identification of vegetative material is difficult and often there is taxonomic confusion. Transplant and controlled‐environment experiments have shown that the variations in leaf form are largely plastic growth responses to localised environmental conditions. In general, the morphological variation is greater between populations than within populations, suggesting that selection pressures at different sites have produced a range of genotypically different populations, each with a varying phenotypic response to their particular environment. These findings have taxonomic implications. Because of phenotypic plasticity, the characters, leaf size, leaflet number, hairiness and petiole length, are of little value in diagnostic keys.