An investigation of morphological evidence supports the resurrection of Pyrrocoma scaberula (Asteraceae: Astereae)

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Field data were gathered from 31 wild populations of Pyrrocoma liatriformis sensu lato (Asteraceae, Astereae). These are measures of degree of tomentosity and glandularity, number of lateral inflorescence branches, number, length and width of flower heads, width of phyllaries, and width of the lowest leaf of the inflorescence. Principle components analysis and univariate statistics of these characters reveal non-uniformity in the morphology of P. liatriformis sensu lato, with two identifiable morphologies corresponding to geographical range, as divided into the Palouse grasslands on the one hand and grasslands of the Snake River Canyons/Camas Prairie region on the other. The plants of the latter geographical range are represented by the type of Pyrrocoma scaberula, hitherto synonymized under P. liatriformis since the original publication of these names in 1909. The segregation of populations into a resurrected P. scaberula leaves P. liatriformis sensu stricto a much rarer and an even more threatened species. Conservation implications of this taxonomy are discussed.

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Reference Code: A09BJO01IDUS <br>

Full Citation: Bjork, Curtis R. and Darrach Mark. 2009. An investigation of morphological evidence supports the resurrection of Pyrrocoma scaberula (Asteraceae: Astereae). Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 3(1):231-238 <br>

Location: ELECTRONIC FILE - BOTANY: PLANT SPECIES: {Pyrrocoma scaberula} <br>

Keywords: Pyrrocoma liatriformis, Pyrrocoma scaberula, Palouse, grasslands, Snake River Canyon, Camas Prairie <br>