Biosystematics of Sisyrinchium Section Bermudiana (Iridaceae) of the Rocky Mountains
Cholewa AF and Henderson DM. 1984. Biosystematics of Sisyrinchium Section Bermudiana (Iridaceae) of the Rocky Mountains. Brittonia. 36(4):342-363
Prior to this study thirteen taxa of Sisyrinchium section Bermudiana were recognized as occurring in the Rocky Mountains. Morphological intrapopulational variation and hybridization with polyploidy has led to a general lack of discrete phenetic discontinuities among the species, resulting in differing taxonomic treatments. A biosystematic study utilizing morphology, cytology, analysis of breeding systems, and hybridization was undertaken to resolve the taxonomy of Rocky Mountain populations of Sisyrinchium. The following taxa are considered to be valid species of the Rocky Mountains. S. septentrionale Bicknell, a tetraploid (n=16), the octoploids (n=32) S. idahoense Bicknell and S. radicatum Bicknell, and the duodecaploid (n=48) S. mountanum Greene. In addition, a previously undescribed, octoploid species, S. pallidum (with close affinities to S. idahoense) was discovered in north-central Colorado and southeastern Wyoming.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Cholewa, Anita; Henderson, Douglass
- Units
- YELL
- Keywords
- Bermudiana, monocotyledons, Plant Studies, Sisyrinchium, Wildflowers