ZLV Online

Abstrakt

Variability in leaf lamina shape among different taxa of Betula L. genus in the Czech Republic was assessed using the quantitative evaluation of outline shapes. The study was especially focused on the border mountains and the central part of the republic. 342 specimens were tested in total. The specimens of the tetraploid and diploid birch taxa were clearly distinguishable. The location of the widest part of blade seems to be the most relevant sign for the determination between two above-mentioned groups. On the contrary, distinguishing between the tetraploid taxa was not successful. Even though it was observed that the geographic area and the height of the specimen have a significant impact on the variability of the blade shape of tetraploid taxa, preliminary in situ taxa determination did not coincide with the geometric morphometry results. Other tested variables (wetness of the site and the altitude) also did not significantly correlate with the leaf shape. The failure of discrimination among the tetraploid Betula populations thus might imply either insufficient discriminative power of the leaf shape characters or an incorrect taxonomy. Final conclusions on discrimination of Czech Betula L. taxa, however, will need an employment of genetic analyses.