Morphometric relationships in Hordeum vulgare (Triticeae, Poaceae). I. H. spontaneum

Abstract

This paper is the first contribution to a reexamination of Hordeum vulgare (sensu lato). It sets forth and defines the characters which formed the basis of our studies, and reports the results of our morphometric analyses of the morph H. spontaneum C. Koch. An evaluation of previous taxonomic treatments of infraspecific variation was carried out. Åberg's (1940. Symb. Bot. Upsal. 4(2): 1–156) varieties are rejected on the basis of inadequate criteria. Nabelek's (1929. Wiss. Arch. Landwirtsch. Abt. A, 1: 804–807) varieties, though well-defined, are not supported by the results of our discriminant analyses. It is concluded that, although the spontaneum morph is highly variable, it does not lend itself to the recognition of infraspecific segregates.