Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

 

Taxonomy and ecology of Mentzelia mollis Peck and related species Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/5x21th823

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • A study was made to clarify the relationships of Mentzelia mollis Peck and two poorly understood taxa of Mentzelia (Loasaceae) to the other members of the genus, its sections, and its subsections, and to describe the general ecology of each taxon. Within the genus, the section Trachyphytum is characterized by pendulous seeds, an annual habit, and placentae that do not expand as the seeds mature. The section is further divided into three subsections on the basis of width of filaments and shape and surface texture of the seeds. Seven populations of M. mollis were found, all growing in a floristically depauperate community on greenish clay derived from the Sucker Creek Formation and all within the Succor Creek drainage of Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho. The Leslie Gulch Mentzelia occurs only in Leslie Gulch, west of Succor Creek, at the base of talus slopes of the same Sucker Creek Formation. The Colorado Mentzelia has been found only in Colorado and Utah, near the border between the two states. Morphological and cytological comparisons of M. mollis and the Leslie Gulch Mentzelia show differences in floral structure, branching pattern, leaf shape, seed size and shape, and ploidy level. Mentzelia mollis is a tetraploid (n=18) and the Leslie Gulch Mentzelia is an octoploid (n=36). Both have narrow filaments, pendulous seeds, and placentae which do not expand as the seeds mature. Comparison of the Colorado Mentzelia with M. mollis shows similar branching pattern and seed size, but differences in the seed surface detail and in floral structure. The scanning electron microscope was utilized to compare seed shape and surface detail of these three taxa with that of three other species of section Trachyphytum. Both M. mollis and the Leslie Gulch Mentzelia have flowers which open about 2:30 p.m. and close after dark, and both are visited by the same Bombyliid-type insects in early evening. Both tolerate extraordinarily high concentrations of potassium, sodium, and calcium, as well as high soil surface and air temperatures. Placement of all three taxa in section Trachyphytum was made on the basis of relative placental growth and annual habit. Seed shape and surface detail justified their placement in subsection Trachyphyta. Morphological considerations and ploidy level seemed sufficient evidence to describe the Leslie Gulch Mentzelia as a new species, Mentzelia packardiae Glad; and morphological differences and geographical separation indicated that the Colorado Mentzelia should be similarly handled. It was described as Mentzelia thompsonii Glad. An existing key was adapted to include all three species. Speculation concerning possible origins of M. mollis and M. packardiae leads to the hypothesis that M. mollis is a relic which survived the climatic and geological fluctuations of the past. Its origin is considered in relation to its being a member of a mature polyploid complex. It is also considered possible that there may be some relationship between M. mollis and the possibly younger M packardiae. Both species are edaphic endemics, and their evolution is briefly considered in that respect.
Resource Type
Date Available
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Academic Affiliation
Non-Academic Affiliation
Rights Statement
Publisher
Peer Reviewed
Language
Digitization Specifications
  • File scanned at 300 ppi (Monochrome, 8-bit Grayscale) using ScandAll PRO 1.8.1 on a Fi-6770A in PDF format. CVista PdfCompressor 5.0 was used for pdf compression and textual OCR.
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items