MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION IN LEUCOPOGON RUFUS LINDL - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Leucopogan rufus Lindl. is a widespread and morphologically variable s pecies found throughout south-eastern Australia. Ordination and cluste r analyses suggest that the specimens can be separated into two or mor e clusters primarily based on vegetative and floral features, particul arly that of indumentum, a character that has previously been regarded as unreliable in Leucopogan. The results indicate that phenetic clust ering does occur across the geographic range of L. rufus. However, sin ce inter-population variation is inadequately known these taxa are not formally recognized here. (C) 1996 Annals of Botany Company