Multivariate morphometric and allozymic analysis of the Conospermum taxifolium (Proteaceae) species complex

Abstract

A morphometric analysis of 18 attributes of 110 plants of the Conospermum taxifolium complex suggests that it consists of three polythetically distinct taxa, corresponding to the traditional concepts of C. taxifolium Smith s. str.,C. ericifolium Smith and C. ellipticum Smith. Discrimination is possible on the basis of leaf but not flower attributes. Analysis of allozymic variation indicates that the taxa are also genotypically differentiated.C. ericifolium and C. ellipticum are geographically isolated from each other but not from C. taxifolium, and C. taxifolium is usually ecologically segregated from the other two taxa. Where this ecological segregation breaks down, morphological intermediates sometimes occur as the result of hybridization.