Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-9q27g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T14:21:30.091Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Taxonomy of infraspecific variation in Betula pubescens Ehrh., with particular reference to the Scottish Highlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

A. S. Gardiner
A. S. Gardiner
Affiliation:
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Merlewood Research Station, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6JU
Get access

Synopsis

The variability of the pubescent birch and the probable existence of hybrids between it and two other birches make it a difficult species to classify at an infraspecific level. To some extent, the variation is geographical and to cover its distribution, three subspecies are proposed by the authors of Flora Europaea, sspp. pubescens, carpatica and tortuosa. Two subspecies are recognized in Britain, namely ssp. pubescens and ssp. odorata, but some confusion has arisen through the undetermined relationships between sspp. odorata, carpatica and tortuosa. The rejection of ssp. odorata is proposed as its application, in this case, differs from that intended by J. M. Bechstein, the original authority. An examination of the literature indicates that ssp. tortuosa and ssp. carpatica are probably indistinguishable (a conclusion supported by multivariate analysis) and that the epithet tortuosa can be applied to both taxa. The pubescent birch in the Scottish Highlands may be referred to ssp. tortuosa and, in addition, the high frequency of small-leafed individuals in some populations in the northwest and at higher altitudes, justifies the further distinction of var. microphylla Hartman.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 85 , Issue 1-2: Birches , 1984 , pp. 13 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ascherson, P. and Graebner, P. 1898. Flora des Nordostdeutschen Flachlandes (ausser Preussen), p. 253. Berlin.Google Scholar
Bechstein, J. M., 1797. Diana, oder Gesellschaft zur Erweiterung und Berichtigung der Natur-, Forst- und Jagdkunde, vol. I, pp. 74–80. Waltershausen.Google Scholar
Brown, I. R., Kennedy, D. and Williams, D. A. 1982. The occurrence of natural hybrids between Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh. Watsonia 14, 133–145.Google Scholar
Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. and Warburg, E. F. 1952. Flora of the British Isles, 1st edn, p. 729. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. and Warburg, E. F. 1959. Excursion Flora of the British Isles, 1st edn, p. 262. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. and Warburg, E. F. 1962. Flora of the British Isles, 2nd edn, p. 570. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. and Warburg, E. F. 1968. Excursion Flora of the British Isles, 2nd edn, p. 262; reprinted with corrections, 1973; reprinted, 1975, 1978. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. and Warburg, E. F. 1981. Excursion Floral of the British Isles, 3rd edn, p. 217. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Davis, P. H. and Heywood, V. H. 1963. The Principles of Angiosperm Taxonomy, pp. 74–109. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd.Google Scholar
Dippel, L. 1892. Handbuch der Laubholzkunde, vol. II, pp. 172–175. Berlin: Paul Parey.Google Scholar
Elkington, T. T. 1968. Introgressive hybridization between Betula nana L. and B. pubescens Ehrh. in North-West Iceland. New Phytol. 67, 109–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fontaine, F. J. 1970. Het Geslacht Betula. Belmontia (Incidental) 13, 99–180.Google Scholar
Gardiner, A. S. 1972b. A biometric study of leaf variation in some British birch populations. Forestry 45, 101–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardiner, A. S. 1972. A review of the subspecies carpatica and tortuosa within the species Betula pubescens Ehrh. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 41, 451–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gardiner, A. S. and Jeffers, J. N. R. 1962. Analysis of the collective species Betula alba L. on the basis of leaf measurements. Silvae Genet. 11, 156–161.Google Scholar
Gardiner, A. S. and Pearce, N. J. 1979. Leaf-shape as an indicator of introgression between Betula pendula and B. pubescens. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 43, 91–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartman, C. J. 1820. Handbok i Skandinaviens Flora, p. 341. Stockholm: Haeggström.Google Scholar
Heslop-Harrison, J. H. and Morton, J. K. 1951. Botanical investigation in the Isles of Raasay, Rhum (v.c. 104), Lewis and Harris (v.c. 110) in 1951. Proc. Univ. Durham Philos. Soc. 11, 12–23.Google Scholar
Jentys-Szaferowa, J. 1950. Analysis of the collective species Betula alba L. on the basis of leaf measurements. Part II. Betula pubescens, B. tortuosa and B. carpatica. Bull. Acad. Pol. Sci. Lettres, Ser. B. Cracow, 1–61.Google Scholar
Kallio, P. and Mäkinen, V. 1978. Vascular flora of Inari Lapland. 4. Betulaceae. Rep. Kevo Subarctic Res. Stn 14, 38–63.Google Scholar
Kenworthy, J. B., Aston, D. and Bucknall, S. A. 1972. A study of hybrids between Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. nana L. from Sutherland—an integrated approach. Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 42, 517–539.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laing, E. V. and Carlisle, A. 1955. Studies in morphological variation in conifers. Rep. For. Res. For. Commn Lond. 79–80.Google Scholar
Laing, E. V. and Carlisle, A. 1956. Studies of the morphological variation of forest trees. Rep. For. Res. For. Commn Lond. 95–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ledebour, C. F. von. 1849. Flora Rossica sive enumeratio Plantarum in totis imperii Rossici, vol. III, p. 652. Stuttgart.Google Scholar
Marshall, E. S. 1914. The Cambridge British Flora, ed. Moss, C. E. el al., vol. II, pp. 82–86. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Nyman, C. F. 1881. Conspectus Florae Europaeae, p. 672. Orebro.Google Scholar
Rehder, A. 1949. Bibliography of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the Cooler Temperate Regions of Northern Hemisphere, p. 99. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaarma, A. and Valanne, T. 1973. On the taxonomy, biology and origin of B. tortuosa Ledeb. Rep. Kevo Subarctic Res. Stn 14, 38–63.Google Scholar
Walters, S. M. 1964. Flora Europaea, ed. Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H. et al., vol I, p. 58. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
Walters, S. M. 1968. Oak woods and birch woods; Betula L. in Britain. Proc. Bot. Soc. Br. Isl. 7, 179–180.Google Scholar
Willdenow, C. L. 1805. Species Platarum, 4th edn, vol. IV, pp. 462–464. Berlin.Google Scholar
Winkler, H. 1904. Betulaceae; in Das Pflanzenreich, ed. Engler, A., vol. IV, pp. 61, 81–82. Leipzig.Google Scholar