THE ORIGIN AND RELATIONSHIPS OF LASTHENIA BURKEI (COMPOSITAE)

Abstract

Lasthenia burkei (Compositae) is a narrowly restricted California endemic closely related to L. conjugens and L. fremontii. These three species differ from each other by pappus and phyllary characters and in geographical distribution. All are freely intercrossable, but L. fremontii forms rather sterile artificial hybrids with its two relatives which, in turn, form fairly fertile artificial hybrids with each other. Lasthenia burkei and L. conjugens have homologous chromosomes, four of which are homologous with four of those of L. fremontii. The remaining two chromosomes probably have reciprocal translocations which lead to multivalent formation during meiosis in interspecific hybrids. Pollen viability is restored in most F2 generations, suggesting a close genetic relationship among the three species. The evolutionary relationship among these species may be a linear one with L. burkei occupying an intermediate position between L. fremontii and L. conjugens, although the direction of this linear phylogeny is not certain, or it may be one in which L. burkei has been derived from hybridization between its two relatives. Support for the latter hypothesis comes from the appearance of some individuals in F1 progenies of L. conjugens × L. fremontii that are morphologically indistinguishable from L. burkei (although fairly sterile). The apparently rather simple genetic basis for the morphological characteristics of each of the species in this trio suggests that the morphologically heterogeneous genus Lasthenia may be considerably more homogeneous genetically than might be suspected. Because of the diverse kinds of relationships among these three Lasthenias, possible alternative taxonomies for the group are dependent upon those relationships that a taxonomist wishes to communicate. Nevertheless, the patterns of diversification in this group have led to reaffirmation of an earlier decision that three species should be recognized.