Genetic relationships and population structure of the endangered Steamboat buckwheat, Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae (Polygonaceae).

Eriogonum ovalifolium var. williamsiae (Steamboat buckwheat) is a narrow endemic subshrub, known from a single locality in Washoe County, Nevada. We examined genetic structure of the only known population by analyzing patterns of allozyme variation. Our results suggest that Steamboat buckwheat has high genetic variability, with levels of variation similar to that typical of a widespread species rather than a narrow endemic. Genotype frequencies suggest that mating is random. We detected no genetic subdivision of the population. Several clones spanning up to 67 cm were found, but we do not know if such clones are common. We used allozyme data to assess the genetic similarity of var. williamsiae to five other varieties of E. ovalifolium. All six varieties are very similar allozymically with var. williamsiae being the most similar to the widespread var. ovalifolium. Although var. williamsiae and var. ovalifolium are morphologically distinct, their genetic similarity warrants further study to determine whether or not they should be treated as separate taxa. Evidence of male sterility in var. williamsiae plus other data leads us to hypothesize that this taxon might be either a hybrid or undergoing cytoplasmic introgression. Information gathered from this study, in concert with ongoing work on the breeding system of Steamboat buckwheat, should be helpful in forming management strategies for this plant.

Tests of pre- and postpollination barriers to hybridization between sympatric species of Ipomopsis (Polemoniaceae).

The Ipomopsis aggregata species complex (Polemoniaceae) includes species pairs that hybridize readily in nature as well as pairs that meet along contact zones with no apparent hybridization. Artificial hybrids can be made between I. aggregata and I. arizonica, yet morphological intermediates between these two species have not been observed in natural populations. This apparent lack of hybridization is perplexing given that plants of the two species often grow within a few metres of each other and both species have red flowers visited by the same species of hummingbirds. We used trained hummingbirds to examine pollen transfer within and between species. We also hand-pollinated flowers to examine paternal success of heterospecific and conspecific pollen, testing paternity with electrophoretic examination of seeds. Hummingbirds were not simply better at transferring pollen within than between species. Instead, I. arizonica was a better pollen donor so that considerable pollen transfer was observed from I. arizonica to I. aggregata, but very little in the opposite direction. Conversely, once pollen arrived at stigmas, I. arizonica pollen performed very poorly on I. aggregata pistils. However, pollen from I. aggregata could, in some cases, sire seeds on I. arizonica. We hypothesize that hybrids are scarce in nature, in part, because of asymmetric barriers to reproduction: little pollen transfer in one direction and poor pollen performance in the other.