Revised taxonomic treatment of the Alyssum montanum-A-repens complex in the Balkans: a multivariate morphometric analysis
Abstrakt
A multivariate morphometric study of the Balkan taxa from the diploid-polyploid complex of Alyssum montanum-A. repens (Brassicaceae) was performed. The western European species A. montanum and central European A. gmelinii were also included in the study for comparison.
A total of 1969 individuals from 89 populations were studied to explore morphological differences among taxa or genetic groups revealed in a parallel study by a combination of molecular and cytometric evidence. According to our results, several Balkan taxa are clearly morphologically differentiated, namely A. handelii, A. moellendorfianum, A. pirinicum, A. rostratum and A. wierzbickii.
Other species-A. bosniacum, A. montenegrinum, A. reiseri and A. vernale-exhibit overlaps in values of the most differentiating characters, but can all be steadily distinguished. Alyssum repens, which is not genetically compact, is still morphologically recognizable from other Balkan taxa.
Two species, A. austrodalmaticum and A. gmelinii, despite having clear genetic differences and an allopatric distribution, only have minor morphological differences. The tentatively accepted genetically heterogeneous species A. spruneri, which includes a major portion of the Greek and central Balkan populations, is also extraordinarily variable in morphology.
An identification key of the studied taxa and their synonymy are provided. The taxonomic treatments of the recognized species and their geographic distribution are discussed.