Artificial hybridisation in Epilobium involving New Zealand, European, and North American species

Abstract

Summary Results obtained from 18 interspecific crosses between seven New Zealand species of Epilobium and seven European species were: No self-fertile F1 hybrids were produced; Eight self-sterile F1 hybrids on backcrossing gave B1 progenies; Four crosses failed to set seed; Two fairly vigorous F1 hybrids, one producing flowers, the other not, were not further investigated. The strains referred to in an earlier paper as E. erectum Petrie are now considered to be E. adenocaulon Haussk., a North American species adventitiously introduced to New Zealand. The results of crossing E. adenocaulon with 26 New Zealand species and with some European species are summarised.