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Studies in the genus Luzula

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RobertsonJ_1960redux.pdf (41.53Mb)
Date
1960
Author
Robertson, Janet
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Abstract
 
 
#1. Luzula campestris (L) DC. as described in Buchenau's Monograph of the Juncaceae is morphologically very diverse; to the twenty varieties described in this work, six more have been added since 1906. #2. The geographical distributions of these taxa are different; many of them overlap, but some cover only a very limited area. #3. The taxa found in Europe are ecologically separated* Their morphology has been more closely examined, and they are found to fall into six quite distinct groups: sudetica, pallescens, campestris, multiflora, campestris and congesta. A small proportion of plants could not be assigned to any taxon, and must be considered as possible hybrids or as intermediate forms. The flowering time of campestris is two or three months before that of the other taxa. #4. Three of the taxa are very common in Britain: campestris, multiflora and congesta. They are ecologically separated, campestris growing in dry grassland, multiflora in woods and congesta in moors and bogs. #5. Detailed examination of the morphology of these three taxa shows that they remain more or less distinct in the field, but that they do merge into each other to some extent. The number of plants intermediate between congesta and multiflora is much greater than the number between campestris and either of them. #6. The three taxa mentioned above were grown under identical conditions in the experimental garden. The morphological differences were maintained in the floral characters, and the differences between campestris and the other taxa in the vegetative characters were emphasised. #7. Chromosome counts were obtained from seedlings and from plants grown in cultivation. The numbers obtained were: - pallescens 2n = 12 diploid; campestris 2n = 12 diploid; multiflora 2n = 36 hexaploid; con fiesta 2n = 48 octoploid; multiflora x congesta 2n = 42 heptaploid. #8. The evidence from the morphology, ecology and cytology of the British material suggests that specific rank should be given to all three. #9. If (campestris) multiflora and con esta are recognised at specific rank, it seems to be reasonable that most of the other varieties should receive the same treatment. Specific rank is therefore proposed for all the varieties of L. campestris in Buchenau, with the exception of flaccida, debilis and calabra, of which insufficient material was available. Specific rank is also recommended for L, echinata, L. bulbosa and probably also for L. kobaysii, L. k;jelimnnniana and L. cusickii. #10. Although the taxa warrant specific rank, some recognition of their affinities should be made. They should perhaps therefore be considered as an aggregate species, L. campestris agg., which is composed of a polyploid complex of related species.
 
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http://hdl.handle.net/1842/33730
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