Análisis comparativo del área y morfología foliar en taxones ibéricos amenazados del género Coincya (Cruciferae)

Abstract

Variation in leaf area and in a leaf morphological index (shape index)was evaluated in seedlings 1, 2, and 3-month aged in four taxa of Coincya genus (Cruciferae) phylogenetically related. For all ages, leaf area reachedhigher values in types having thick-beak fruits (C. rupestris), and gradually increased according to the following order: C. monensis subsp. orophila,C. longirostra, C. rupestris subsp. leptocarpa, and C. rupestris subsp. rupestris. We suggest that the increase of leaf area in thick-beak taxa may bean adaptive advantage, additional to those already suggested in previous studies, reinforcing as well the evolutive schema proposed for the entire group. With regard to leaf morphology, shape index neatly discriminated extreme taxa in the phylogenetical line (i.e., C. rupestris subsp. rupestris in the most evolved point versus C. monensis subsp. orophila as the most archaic taxon) when plants reach the adult phase. Intermediate types (i.e., C. rupestris subsp. leptocarpa and C. longirostra) are included within the same group nearly overall.