The variability of natural populations of Brachypodium pinnatum and B. sylvaticum based on morphological features

The morphological diversity in 25 populations of two native species of Brachypodium occurring in Poland, was studied. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of morphometric data segregate specimens or populations of Brachypodium into two groups, corresponding to the two species. In most of morphological characters, B. pinnatum and B. sylvaticum are similar to each other. However, in terms of characteristics, such as the hairiness of culms and leaf-sheaths both can also vary much within a single population. In comparison with B. pinnatum, B. sylvaticum always has pubescent abaxial palea surfaces. Apparent differences were not detected between the two ecotypes of B. pinnatum named "Grassland" and "Woodland"