
%0 Journal Article
%A Hopper, SD 
%A Coates, DJ 
%A Burbidge, AH 
%T Natural Hybridization and Morphometric Relationships Between Three Mallee Eucalypts in the Fitzgerald River National Park, W.A
%J Australian Journal of Botany
%D 1978/06/01
%V 26
%N 3
%P 319-333
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/BT9780319
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/BT9780319 
%X The suspected occurrence of natural hybridization between Eucalyptus preissiana Schau, and E. Buprestium F. Muell, near West Mount Barren was investigated through a study of morphometric and reproductive parameters in allopatric and sympatric populations of these species. While E. Preissiana and E. buprestium were morphometrically distinct in allopatry, a small number of intermediate individuals occurred in one of the two sympatric populations examined. These intermediates set less fruit per plant than the parental species on average, a fact consistent with the hypothesis that they were hybrids showing partial F2 breakdown. The demonstration that New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novae-hollandiae) carried pollen of both parental species in a sympatric population was interpreted as further evidence in support of the occurrence of hybridization. The possible hybrid status of E. chrysantha Blakely &amp; Steedman was investigated through determining its morphometric relationships in a multivariate analysis of E. sepulcralis F. Muell., E. Preissiana and E. buprestium. E. chrysantha was intermediate between E. sepulcralis and E. preissiana, and distinguishable from E. preissiana-E. buprestium hybrids in this analysis. The taxonomic and evolutionary implications of the study are discussed. 
