Taxonomical Impact of Morphological Variation in Quercus robur and Quercus petraea/ A Contribution to the Hybrid Controversy : Genetics of Oaks. IUFRO Proceedings

1993

S. 107-113

14 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200041530

Numeric - taxonomical analysis of the complex Quercus robur-Quercus petraea showed that variability within each of the 2 species is so wide that none of the features considered is suitable for clear distinction. By using multivariate statistical analysis, it was possible to differentiate 2 distinct groups and thus to locate intermediate individuals. However, designating such morphologically intermediate individuals as hybrids remains questionable because it is not possible to find the exact limits of each group. For practical reasons, such limits have often been defined more or less arbitrarily without taking into account the wide variability of the 2 species. This explains the widely accepted view that they hybridize frequently, a view that cannot be supported by the findings of this project.