A taxonomic study of the grass genus Glyceria (mannagrass) in British Columbia

Abstract

The relationships among the nine species of Glyceria occurring in British Columbia were evaluated using principal components analysis of morphological features. The analysis resolved five distinct species and two groups, each consisting of a pair of similar species. Independent analyses of these two groups indicated both consisted of different, albeit close, species. The interpretation that quantitatively similar species are distinct is corroborated by qualitative differences among those same species. A key to the nine species is included.