The genera of the <i>Gaultheria</i> group of the tribe Andromedeae (Ericaceae) have been studied. These genera are <i>Gaultheria</i> L. (including <i>Chiogenes</i> Salis.), <i>Pernettya</i> Gaud., <i>Leucothoe</i> Don, <i>Zenobia</i> Don, <i>Diplycosia</i> Bl., <i>Pernettyopsis</i> King et Gamble and <i>Tepuia</i> Camp. Morphological, anatomical, chemical and cytological characters have been used to clarify generic limits and to construct a subgeneric classification of <i>Gaultheria</i>. Chemical and cytological characters were found to be of limited taxonomic use because of the unpredictable infraspecific variation of the former and the virtual absence of variation in the base chromosome number for the latter. <i>Chiogenes</i> and <i>Pernettya</i> are not sufficiently distinct from <i>Gaultheria</i> to be maintained as separate genera. Appropriate binomials have been proposed, within the genus <i>Gaultheria</i>, for all of the species of <i>Pernettya. Leucothoe</i> and <i>Zenobia</i>, although undoubtedly close to <i>Gaultheria</i>, are maintained as separate genera. The genus <i>Gaultheria</i> has been classified into ten sections (one with two subsections) and 22 series. Each taxon has been described and a diagnostic key to the sections and series has been provided. Field studies in Ecuador have highlighted aspects of the ecology of <i>Gaultheria</i> and <i>Pernettya</i>, particularly their preference for highly disturbed habitats. A previously undescribed hybrid between <i>Gaultheria reticulata</i> and <i>Pernettya prostrata</i> has been found. Closer study of the stamens and anthers of a number of species of <i>Gaultheria</i> has revealed a high incidence of male sterility indicating that gynodioecism may be more common in the genus than previously suspected. Previous studies and observations in the field suggest a high incidence of self-pollination.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:253666 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Middleton, David J. |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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