PHENOTYPIC PLASTICITY OF ANATOMICAL LEAF CHARACTERISTICS IN FESTUCA-RUBRA L (POACEAE)

The phenotypic plasticity of nine anatomical leaf characters of Festuc a rubra was studied through a transplantation experiment. Twelve genot ypes from four habitats (salt marshes, coastal rocks, coastal sands, a nd ruderal places) were submitted to five treatments in a garden. An a nalysis of variance shows that almost all these characters were modifi ed by treatments. Nevertheless, in must cases, the greatest part of th e variation observed was genetic rather than plastic. Morever, it arre ars that genotypes responded quite differently to the treatments. The use of these characters in the taxonomy of F. rubra is discussed.