Geographic Variation among Closely Related, Highly Variable Species with a Wide Distribution Range: the South Andean-Patagonian Nassauvia subgenus Strongyloma (Asteraceae, Nassauvieae)

摘要: Morphological variation among the five species of Nassauvia subgenus Strongyloma was assessed through statistical analyses morphometric traits in populations throughout southern Andean-Patagonian region. Uni- and multivariate were used to identify patterns morphological relation geography. Additionally, distribution modeling implemented relate these climatic conditions. No well-defined groups could be recovered analyses, although we observed some geographic structure. Latitudinal found leaves, phyllaries cypselas, with a cline towards south, where structures become shorter wider. Towards east, number flowers per capitulum decreases, abaxial corolla lips cypselas narrower shorter. Distribution showed several areas contact large overlap suitable conditions for more than one species, which is mainly related mean temperature winter. Despite an association between geography climate, actual distributions putative did not entirely match clinal pattern morphology, geography, climate. Further genetic are still needed probable processes that led complex variation.