DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN GROUPS OF TAGASASTE AND ESCOBON FROM THE CANARY-ISLANDS BASED ON JUVENILE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

A multivariate study based on juvenile characters from 55 germplasm ac cessions of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L. fil.) Link collected in the C anary Islands was carried out in order to critically assess the relati onships among the seven morphological forms. Results showed that escob on of Southern Gran Canaria (C. proliferus (L. fd.) Link ssp. meridion alis J. R. Acebes) was the most distinct morphological form, with tall plants, very narrow leaves, and large internode lengths. This form, t ogether with white escobon of Gran Canaria (C. proliferus ssp. prolife rus var. canariae (Christ) Kunkel), was the fastest growing with a pot ential in agroforestry systems for subtropical regions. Results confir m previous ecogeographical studies that Gran Canaria is the island wit h the highest number of variants and where morphological differentiati on is greatest. Also ecogeographical variation increases in the Canary Islands from west to east. The juvenile characters studied have taxon omic value and a key has been developed to facilitate identification a t early stages of development.