Morphological and genetic variation in the rare daisy Olearia pannosa subsp. cardiophylla (Asteraceae)

Abstract

Olearia pannosa Hook. subsp. cardiophylla (F.Muell.) D.A.Cooke is rare and vulnerable, occurring in small populations in only four reserves within the state of Victoria. Variation within and among populations of this taxon was assessed morphometrically and by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Morphological analysis, including herbarium samples from South Australia, confirmed the distinction of this subspecies from O. pannosa subsp. pannosa and validated the characters Cooke (1986) used to distinguish the two subspecies. Genetic variability within subsp. cardiophylla was detected within local populations, among populations and between geographic regions in Victoria. The disjun..