Taxonomic position of Pinus uliginosa Neumann as related to other taxa of Pinus mugo complex

Abstract

Studies on taxonomic position of <em>Pinus uliginosa</em> Neumann, <em>P. uncinata</em> Ram. and <em>P. mugo</em> Turra, indicate a significant specificity of <em>P. uliginosa</em> population from Wielkie Torfowisko Batorowskie Peat Bog. <em>Pinus uncinata</em> in respect of genetic similarity is close to <em>Pinus mugo</em> Turra populations from the Tatra Mts. The time of divergence of <em>P. uliginosa</em> from the common ancestor, taking into account Nei's genetic distances, is twice as long as in the case of <em>Pinus uncinata</em>. In the view of the results the supposition that <em>Pinus uliginosa</em> from Wielkie Torfowisko Batorowskie Peat Bog is a marginal population of <em>P. uncinata</em> can be excluded, because of their significant difference in genetic structure. The presumable reasons of specificity of <em>P. uliginosa</em> population are disscused.