A study of morphological variation within Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve (Poaceae: Triticeae)

Graduation date: 1986Chromosome counts were determined for 152 accessions of Pseudoroegneria\ud spicata (Pursh) A. Löve and, combined with existing count\ud data, used to plot the distribution of diploid and tetraploid populations.\ud Morphological variation of 55 characters was examined in five\ud groups totaling 205 operational taxonomic units (OTU's), using\ud cluster, principal factor, and discriminant analyses. The five groups\ud included diploid and autotetraploid spicata, an allotetraploid previously\ud included in spicata, a control group including four Old\ud World Pseudoroegneria species, and a small control sample of Elymus\ud lanceolatus (Scrib. and Smith) Gould. The analyses were not able to\ud separate diploid from autoploid spicata nor identify any clear sub-groupings\ud within the diploids. However, the alloploid was separated\ud from spicata and aligned with Elymus lanceolatus based on glume and\ud spike characters. This study recommends the alloploid be included in\ud lanceolatus as a new subspecies, Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawai.\ud The chromosome count data indicate it is distributed in the canyons\ud and tributaries of the lower Salmon and Snake Rivers of northern\ud Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and southeastern Washington. The new\ud subspecies keys to Elymus lanceolatus based on glume characters and\ud is separated from subspecies lanceolatus and albicans by its\ud cespitose growth habit