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A paedomorphocline in Eucalyptus: natural variation in the E. risdonii / E. tenuiramis complex

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 20:29 authored by Robert Wiltshire, Bradley PottsBradley Potts, James ReidJames Reid
Ontogenetic and morphological variation in 40 natural populations of the closely related species, E. risdonii and E. tenuiramis, were assessed in a multivariate study of juvenile and adult leaf and fruit characters. The present taxonomic separation of the two taxa is based mainly on ontogenetic differences, but this study reveals that the variation between the two taxa in the retention of the juvenile leaf habit is continuous and may represent a paedomorphocline. The morphological data suggest that at least four phenetic groups are required to summarise the morphological variation in the E. risdonii / E. tenuiramis complex. When ontogenetic variation is removed, the morphological variation between some E. risdonii and some E. tenuiramis populations is also continuous and much smaller than the morphological differences within E. tenuiramis. This suggests that E. risdonii may be the product of relatively recent changes in developmental timing (heterochrony) from E. tenuiramis.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Botany

Volume

39

Issue

6

Pagination

545-566

ISSN

0067-1924

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

150 Oxford St, Po Box 1139, Collingwood, Australia, Victoria, 3066

Rights statement

Copyright 1991 CSIRO

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Terrestrial biodiversity

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    University Of Tasmania

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