Volatile oils and the study of natural hybridization between Correa aemula and C. reflexa (Rutaceae)

Abstract

A small hybrid swarm between Correa aemula and C. reflexa was located and examined morphologically and chemically, with an emphasis on volatile oils. The hybrid plants were intermediate morphologically between the two parental species. The volatile oil data were subjected to multivariate numerical analysis, the results of which confirmed the general intermediacy of the hybrid plants. In general it was found that ordination is a more useful technique for the study of hybridization than is classification. It would appear that numerical analysis of volatile oil data will prove a useful technique in the study of the complex variation found within the genus Correa.