The variability of natural populations of Brachypodium pinnatum and B. sylvaticum based on morphological features
The morphological diversity in 25 populations of two native species of <em>Brachypodium</em> occurring in Poland, was studied. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of morphometric data segregate specimens or populations of <em>Brachypodium</em> into two groups, corresponding to the two species. In most of morphological characters, <em>B. pinnatum</em> and <em>B. sylvaticum</em> are similar to each other. However, in terms of characteristics, such as the hairiness of culms and leaf-sheaths both can also vary much within a single population. In comparison with <em>B. pinnatum</em>, <em>B. sylvaticum</em> always has pubescent abaxial palea surfaces. Apparent differences were not detected between the two ecotypes of <em>B. pinnatum</em> named "Grassland" and "Woodland".