MONOMORPHISM, REDUCED GENE FLOW, AND CLEISTOGAMY IN RARE AND COMMON SPECIES OF LESPEDEZA (FABACEAE)

Population genetic structure was analyzed in the rare, native prairie legume Lespedeza leptostachya Engelm. and in the widespread L. capitata Michx. Both species produce a mixture of chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers. Allozymes were analyzed for 32 loci from 224 individuals from 12 populations of L. leptostachya and for 34 loci in 291 individuals from 12 populations of L. capitata. L. leptostachya is entirely monomorphic at all loci studied, while L. capitata shows strong among-population differentiation for the limited variation that occurs in that species. Allozyme data suggest that the level of gene flow among populations of L. capitata is very low, and that very low levels of outcrossing are effected by the chasmogamous flowers in L. capitata.