Abstract
The comparative analysis of leaf morphology was performed in <em>E. helleborine</em> (L.) Crantz, <em>E.atrorubens</em> (Hoffm.) Besser, and their interspecific hybrid, <em>Epipactis</em> ×<em>schmalhausenii</em> Richt. The aim of this research was to find out features that would be useful in the taxonomy of the genus <em>Epipactis</em>, and particulary their taxa of hybrid origin. In course of the studies special attention was paid to leaf morphology, mostly to their margins, presence of papillae, their shape and size, and to leaf structure. The thickness of the leaf blades manifested by number of spongy mesophyll cell layers, size of vascular bundles and the level of leaf sclerification were compared in the hybrid and both parental species. In <em>E. helleborine</em> and <em>E. atrorubens</em> the analyzed features were highly variable, especially in the former species, which is characterized by wide phenotypic plasticity. Morphological and anatomical features in <em>E</em>. ×<em>schmalhausenii</em> showed a transitional character to the parental species. Our results suggest that a single feature can not be of taxonomic value, but the combination of different traits has to be considered when distinguishing parental and hybrid taxa.
Highlights
Natural hybridization is a widespread phenomenon in plant kingdom
The comparative analysis of leaf morphology was performed in E. helleborine (L.) Crantz, E.atrorubens (Hoffm.) Besser, and their interspecific hybrid, Epipactis ×schmalhausenii Richt
In studied taxa the flower morphology is well recognized (Fig. 2 A-C inlets; e.g. Bernacki 1988, 1989; Szlachetko and Rutkowski 2000; Pridgeon et al 2005) the labellum features were not taken under consideration in this research and the main focus was on the leaf morphology
Summary
E.g. Poaceae or Orchidaceae, are more inclined to form hybrids than others (Potùèek and Èaèko 1996; Ainouche et al 2009; Steiner and Boni 2009). Particulary, the latter family, which is an evolutionary young group of plants, creates hybrids at the species and genus levels (Goodfery 1927; Dressler 1993). Hybrids may present clonal variations (Stebbins 1957). It means that local populations may be characterized by different morphological and genetic combination of taxonomically significant features that could make it impossible to undoubtedly identify a specimen
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