Limonium gmelinii (Willd.) O. Kuntze in Serbia and Republic of Macedonia: Analysis of morphological variability

Abstract

Limonium gmelinii is distributed from Central and Southeast Europe, through Central Asia to Siberia. It is characterized by variable morphological characters, and many infraspecific taxa are described. As a consequence, characters that contribute to efficient identification of taxa are scarce. In order to analyse morphological variability among different samples, compare obtained data with existing keys, and revise morphological characters, four populations of L. gmelinii from Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia were examined. Plant materials were collected at different saline habitats, along the gradient of latitude in the western part of the taxa distribution area. Infraspecific taxa (f. acuminatum , f. obtusum i f. hungaricum) were determined within the analyzed plant material according to regional Floras. To present variability of morphological characters, multivariate analyses (PCA, DA, CA) were performed. Results confirmed high variability of the characters which are key characters in many literature sources, and also are important for discrimination of our samples. Finally, additional characters that contributed to sample discrimination were identified.