Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83 (3): 365-374, 2010
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Comparative analysis of leaf area and morphology in threatened Iberian Coincya
(Cruciferae) taxa
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 reached higher 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 be an 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.
Key words:
adaptive advantage,
leaf area, leaf morphology, thick fruit-beak
