A Taxometric Analysis of Characters of Polygonum lapathifolium L.

Yang Ji, Wang Jin-Wu

Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1991-05-10 Published:1991-05-10
Contact: Yang Ji

Abstract:

Polygonum lapathifolium L. is a morphologically variable and taxonomically com-

plicated group. The height of plants and the degree of nodal expansion greatly vary in differ-

ent habitats. In this work field observation and mass collection in different habitats of this

species were made. By means of biometric techniques, principal component analysis,

discriminant analysis, scatter diagram and histogram, supplemented by transplantation ex-

periment, it is revealed that the height of plants and the degree of nodal expansion of P.

lapathifolium are evidently affected by environmental conditions, and these two variables are

not correlated with, but independent from, each other. The results also show that the

indumentum on the lower leaf surface is not constant. Therefore all the characters are not re-

liable diagnostic ones and any taxonomic treatment based on these characters is not reasona-

ble. In this paper, P. nodosum Pers. is reduced as a synonym of P. lapathifolium L. and P.

lapathifolium var. salicifolium Sibth. is also eliminated.

Key words: Polygonum lapathifolium L., P. nodosum Pers, Character analysis

Yang Ji, Wang Jin-Wu. A Taxometric Analysis of Characters of Polygonum lapathifolium L.[J]. .

[1]	ZHAO Yi-Zhi, LI Su-Ying, CAO Rui, LIU Yun-Bo. The Analysis of Morphological Characters and a Taxonomic Revision on Panzerina anata (L.) Sojak Complex (Labiatae) [J]. , 1998, 36(3): 193-205.
[2]	Liu Shang-wu, Deng De-shan, Liu Jian-quan. The Origin, Evolution and Distribution of Ligularia Cass. (Compositae) [J]. , 1994, 32(6): 514-524.

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