THE GENUS ANTENNARIA (ASTERACEAE, INULEAE) IN WESTERN NORTH-AMERICA - MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ANTENNARIA-ALBOROSEA, ANTENNARIA-CORYMBOSA, ANTENNARIA-MARGINATA, ANTENNARIA-MICROPHYLLA, ANTENNARIA-PARVIFOLIA, ANTENNARIA-ROSEA, AND ANTENNARIA-UMBRINELLA

Multivariate analysis of vegetative and reproductive characters was used to examine morphological relatedness among Antennaria alboroseaA. E. Porsild, A. corymbosaE. Nels., A. marginataGreene, A. microphyllaRydb., A. parvifoliaNutt., A. roseaGreene, and A. umbrinellaRydb. Both pistillate and staminate plants were examined. Some of the characters examined were variable in one species, but stable in another (i.e., presence or absence of papillae on the achenes). Our analyses indicate that the seven species are morphologically distinct. It is hypothesized that the A. rosea agamic complex arose through hybridization among A. corymbosa, A. microphylla, A. umbrinella, and possibly A. dioica (L.)Gaertn. However, hybridization between the three former species and others, as well as their subsequent morphological responses to different environmental conditions causes confusion in recognizing the taxa. Antennaria angustifoliaRydb., A. aridaE. Nels., A. confinisGreene, A. scariosaE. Nels., A. foliacea humilisRydb., A. concinnaE. Nels., and A. viscidulaE. Nels. are considered to represent F 1 hybrids. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.