A Taxonomic Study of Variation in Leptochloa fascicularis (LAM.) Gray in the Central Great Plains

Authors

Todd A. Templeton, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Date of this Version

1991

Document Type

Article

Comments

1991. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, XVIII: 151-155

Abstract

The morphology of Leptochloa fascicularis (Lam.) Gray (Poaceae) was studied in 25 locations in eastern and central Nebraska to determine if this grass was separable into two distinct taxa as suggested in several recent sources. Field collections were supplemented with herbarium specimens from other parts of the Central Great Plains. Glume and lemma lengths, the characters used in published keys, provided no separations useful in dividing the material into two species or varieties. However, individual local populations exhibited significant differences from each other in these characters. Such local differences appear to be reasonable given the high degree of inbreeding that appears to be prevalent at most locations.