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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section / ASPT

Morawetz, Jeffery J. [1], Wolfe, Andrea D. [1].

Phenetic analyses of morphological traits in the Alectra sessiliflora complex (Orobanchaceae).

ALECTRA (Orobanchaceae) is a genus of primarily hemiparasitic herbs. Alectra sessiliflora var. sessiliflora, var. senegalensis, and var. monticola form a morphologically cohesive group with overlapping distributions throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and are characterized by sessile yellow flowers and a branching habit. Traditional characters used to distinguish these varieties were stamen filament pubescence and calyx pubescence. These characters are variable and overlapping, thus preventing confident determination of specimens. This difficulty suggested that the taxonomic delimitations are problematic, and required further investigation. A phenetic study was undertaken to determine if this complex is best treated as a single large polymorphic taxon or as a series of similar yet discrete taxa. Twenty-four morphological traits were examined on 134 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and the data were analyzed using UPGMA and PCoA. Discrete clusters were not identified by the analyses. These results suggest that A. sessiliflora should be recognized as a single species without infraspecific divisions. The implications of this study will be addressed in a monograph of Alectra currently in preparation.[c.e.:srb]


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1 - Ohio State University, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, 300 Aronoff Laboratory, 318 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, Ohio, 43210-1293, USA

Keywords:
Alectra
Orobanchaceae
Principal Coordinates Analysis
species complex
Africa
hemiparasitic.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 50-11
Location: 144/Performing Arts Center
Date: Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
Time: 5:00 PM
Abstract ID:408


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