Pattern of Geographic Variation, Based on Seedling Morphology, in Eucalyptus Ovata Labill. And E. Brookerana A.m. Gray [Provenances From Victoria, Tasmania and King Island] and Comparisons With Some Other Eucalyptus Species.

Abstract

Fourteen populations of Eucalyptus brookerana. a newly described species, and 11 populations of E. ovata were selected throughout the species' distribution ranges in southern Victoria, King Island and Tasmania, and the morphology of seedlings compared by classification and ordination techniques. Although adult trees of the two taxa can be similar in the field. seedlings are distinctly different. Both species, however, show interpopulation variation. Populations of E. brookerana from King Island. Bass Strait, and the Otway Ranges of southern Victoria were similar to one another and different as a group from the Tasmanian populations. Both E, brookerana and E. ovata showed evidence of clinal variation, e.g. increased oil gland density with increased latitude. These seedling populations were also compared with E. barberi, E. yarraensis and E. subcrenulata, and the possible evolutionary relationships of E. ovnta, E. brookerana and E. barberi are discussed.