Scots pine (Pinaceae) from the Crimea compared to the species variation in Europe on the basis of cone traits

Abstract. A sample of Pinus sylvestris cones from a Crimean population was examined in regard to six measured and other four calculated features. Results were compared with the Scots pine populations from Spain and Poland. Relation between the features was analysed, as well as their correlation to longitude and latitude. Range of variation of the Crimean pine cones falls within the total variation of species in Europe. No relations of cone features to longitude were found, while several features were correlated significantly to latitude. The question, whether this fact results from the reaction of cones to climatic conditions, or the reason is the origin of populations from different Pleistocene refugia, demands further investigation. Key words: Pinus sylvestris, plant variation, Pleistocene refugia, statistical analysi