Identifying inflorescence phytoliths from selected species of wheat (Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccon, T. dicoccoides, and T. aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare and H. spontaneum) (Gramineae)

Analysis of microfossil silica phytoliths is becoming an increasingly impor tant research tool for taxonomists, archaeobotanists, and paleoecologists. Expanded use of phytolith analysis by researchers is dependent upon develop ment of phytolith systematics. In this study phytoliths produced by the inf lorescence bracts from four species of wheat, Triticum monoccocum, T. dicoc con, T. dicoccoides, and T. aestivum, and two species of barley, Hordeum vu lgare, and H. spontaneum, were analyzed using computer-assisted image and s tatistical analysis with the intent to develop taxonomic tools to distingui sh among the taxa. A classification key based on significant differences am ong the mean morphometries of the inflorescence phytoliths produced by each species was created and tested. Discriminant analysis of the morphometries of several morphotypes of phytoliths was also conducted to determine wheth er this computer-assisted statistical procedure could be used as another me thod to classify the taxa and to determine which morphotypes have measureme nts that can best be used in discriminant functions. Test results indicated that, at the genus level, both the classification key and discriminant ana lysis of certain morphotypes of phytoliths were relatively reliable tools f or distinguishing among phytoliths produced in the inflorescence bracts of the taxa considered. For distinguishing among the taxa at the species level , the classification key was most reliable. Of the discriminant analyses te sted, that based on all the phytolith morphotypes combined was more reliabl e than those based on only one morphotype.