Morphometric variation and the classification of Pennisetum section Brevivalvula (Gramineae) in tropical Africa

Abstract

Morphological data for 15 reproductive characters were compiled for 177 African collections of Penniseturn section Brevivalvula (Gramineae). Principal component analyses of the resulting data set revealed the presence of three phenetically distinct groups which are here treated as species. Although extensive morphological variation exists within two of these species, this variation is essentially continuous and is recognized here at the subspecific level.