Morphological and chemical variation in populations of Richea scoparia and R. angustifolia (Epacridaceae)

Abstract

A morphometric and chemical study was made of 24 populations of Richea scoparia and R. angustifolia from widespread locations in Tasmania. The analyses failed to demonstrate any clear-cut discontinuities between the two species. R. angustifolia should be submerged taxonomically within R. scoparia as it is encompassed by the latter's wider variation. The data are interpreted in terms of a cline of a highly variable species, with morphs disposed according to trends in alpine climates from south-west to north-east Tasmania. Superimposed on this cline is a grouping of populations into two sets related to geological substrates. These sets do not correspond to the taxonomic 'species'.