Genetic variation in four species of Pedicularis (Scrophulariaceae) withina limited area in West Greenland

Four closely related species of Pedicularis (Scrophularirtceae), an abundan t plant genus in the Arctic, with different breeding systems were analyzed for amount and distribution of genetic variation at three sites at Qeqertar suaq, West Greenland. Isozyme variation was found in two enzyme systems (ph osphogluconate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase) in only one of the of the species (P. lanata). Average genetic diversity (H-e) was 0.028, includi ng monomorphic loci. Compared to the other three species investigated, P. l anata possesses the breeding system with the highest capacity for outcrossi ng in the study area and also shows the greatest morphological variation wi thin is geographic distribution. There seems thus to be accordance between the morphological variation, breeding system and the population genetic res ults.