Allozyme diversity within and divergence among species ofTolpis(Asteraceae‐Lactuceae) in the Canary Islands: systematic, evolutionary, and biogeographical implications

• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.93.4.656
• Publication Date: 2008-02-28T20:19:38Z
• Authors: Daniel J. Crawford; Jenny K. Archibald; Arnoldo Santos‐Gu...; Mark E. Mort
• Keywords: Endemism; Polyploid; Divergence (linguistics); Genetic divergence

Plants endemic to oceanic islands represent some of the most unusual and rare taxa in world. Enzyme electrophoresis was used assess genetic diversity within divergence among all species a small genus plants on Canary Islands. Our results show that Tolpis is similar many other island groups having generally low allozyme species, with highest found four endemics. The two highly localized T. glabrescens crassiuscula are each divergent from Canaries. coronopifolia also at loci; this only self-compatible annual (or weak biennial). A large, morphologically variable complex consisting laciniata lagopoda together several named unnamed morphological variants shows its elements. evolution polyploidy diploid ancestors situ archipelagos uncommon, but tetraploid an exception. Allozyme data do not implicate any extant as parents polyploid. It possible originated early Islands now extinct. nonendemic barbata no greater Island endemics than exhibit themselves. Both changes allele frequencies unique alleles responsible for Tolpis.