Terpenoid and morphological variability of Pinus quadrifolia and its natural hybridization with Pinus monophylla in Northern Baja California and adjoining United States

Abstract

Mono- and sesquiterpenoids from wood of P. quadrifolia and that of the southwestern form of P. monophylla were analysed by GLC. Concurrently the number of needles per fascicle, the number of resin canals, and the number of abaxial and adaxial stomatal rows towards the tip, in the middle, and towards the base of the needles were determined. The data covered 90 trees from 8 pure populations from southernmost California and northern Baja California and 21 trees from a mixed stand in Baja California.α-Pinene, mycene, α-amorphene, γ-muurolene, germacrene D, and to a very minor extent camphene, β-pinene, limonene, β-phellandrene and β-ylangene percentages could be used for species identification. The number of needles per fascicle, the number of resin canals, and the number of abaxial stomatal rows afforded appreciably sharper identification, however. Statistical treatment of chemical and morphological data from pure stands did not give evidence for introgression of the two species. A definite intermediacy, rather limited in extent, could be demonstrated for the mixed stand, however.