Morphological Variation in Quinchamalium (Schoepfiaceae) is Associated with Climatic Patterns along its Andean Distribution

LOPEZ LAPHITZ RITA MARIA; VIDAL-RUSSELL ROMINA; EZCURRA CECILIA

SYSTEMATIC BOTANY

AMER SOC PLANT TAXONOMISTS

Lugar: Laramie; Año: 2016 vol. 40 p. 1045 - 1052

0363-6445

Quinchamalium (Schoepfiaceae) is a root hemiparasite with a broadgeographic range throughout the Andes. Regional studies have used various vegetativeand floral traits to describe and identify species, but there has been no detailed analysis ofthe continuum of morphological variation across the entire geographic range of thisgenus. Currently 21 species names are being used in the genus but their taxonomicdistinctiveness is unclear. The aim of this study was to use multivariate analyses toidentify patterns of morphological variation, assess the existence of morpho-species, andcorrelate variation with climatic and geographic factors. Two putative species wereinitially circumscribed based on corolla length and this hypothesis was tested usingprincipal component and discriminant analyses of 17 vegetative and floral charactersobtained from 117 herbarium specimens. No statistically significant support was obtainedthrough multivariate analyses for the existence of the two morpho-species, thus, only onespecies is recognized, a widespread and variable Q. chilense. Patterns of co-variationbetween several morphological traits and climate were identified. Taller plants withlarger flowers were associated with sites with higher precipitation, and narrower leaveswith higher temperatures. The presence of thrum flowers (floral morphs with relativelyshort styles) was correlated with higher latitudes and lower temperatures. Nevertheless,we have not determined whether these variations are genetically fixed ecotypes or are aconsequence of phenotypic plasticity.