A MORPHOLOGICAL AND CYTOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF COCHLEARIA POPULATIONS ON THE GOWER PENINSULA, GLAMORGAN

Abstract

Populations of Cochlearia officinalis L. and C. danica L. have been investigated on the Gower Peninsula (v.c. 41) and introgressive hybridisation between the two species is suspected of occurring on Worms Head. Individuals in the hybrid population are apparently highly fertile and preferential backcrossing to C. officinalis is thought to be responsible for the enrichment of that species with morphological characters from C. danica. Evidence is presented in support of the theory that plants carrying the ‘B’ chromosomes which are found in certain populations of C. officinalis are segregants from such hybrids. Copyright © 1977, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved