MORPHOMETRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CYTISUS AND ALLIES (GENISTEAE, LEGUMINOSAE) AS AN AID IN TAXONOMIC DISCRIMINATION

Twenty-four accessions belonging to the genus Cytisus and allied taxa were characterized by adult plant morphometry. Twenty-six characters w ere measured in flowers, 9 in leaves, and 5 in fruits. Two data sets w ere prepared, the first including only floral parameters and the secon d with all the parameters. Two different multivariate analyses were ca rried out for every data set: cluster analysis and principal component s analysis. All these studies produced a similar grouping of the opera tional taxonomic units. Four clear groups were defined: (i) Cytisophyl lum sessilifolium; (ii) Cytisus baeticus, C. reverchonii, C. scoparius ; (iii) Chamaecytisus species; (iv) Genista species. On the other hand , Cytisus villosus showed an intermediate position between Cytisus and Chamaecytisus, and Cytisus heterochrous and C. purgans an intermediat e position between Cytisus and Genista. This grouping agrees with that obtained by other recent seed morphometry and biochemical studies, an d supports the generic arrangement presented by Bisby (1981).