Reproductive success and variation in floral traits in the Iberian Peninsula endemic white campion Silene marizii (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract

Silene marizii (Caryophyllaceae) is a schizoendemism of the west Iberian Peninsula. The correlation between the evolution of reproductive success (as measured in terms of fruit set and seed production) and five floral traits (peduncle length, calyx length, calyx width, petal limb length, and petal limb width) was investigated in five populations of S. marizii, taking into account both intra-populational and inter-populational variability. The populations studied represented the different habitats of S. marizii over its area of distribution. None of the five traits examined was significantly and positively correlated with the number of seeds produced by the flower. An analysis was also made of how floral morphology varies with the position of the flower in the inflorescence in the five populations. The populations from higher altitudes (Caramulhino, Puerto de Menga and Peña de la Cruz) had larger peduncles, calices and petal limbs than those living at lower altitudes (Sabugal and Mangualde) All five morphometric traits, plus the number of ovules per ovary, varied significantly between flower positions on the same plant and among populations.