Morphological variation within the Drosera indica (Droseraceae) complex in northern Australia

Abstract

Morphological variation in northern Australian Drosera indica L. specimens, mainly from northwestern Australia, was studied by cluster analysis and ordination (MDS). Sixty-two accessions were scored for 26 morphological characters representing five vegetative, nine floral and 12 seed features. The accessions were differentiated into three distinct morphotypes mainly on the basis of seed and stamen characters. These morphotypes occurred sympatrically at a number of localities over a wide area across northern Australia, but without obvious evidence of intergradation. This suggests that these morphotypes represent cryptic species within the D. indica complex.