Morphometric variation in Lomelosia crenata (Dipsacaceae)

Morphometric characters on 118 herbarium specimens of Lomelosia crenata subsp. crenata (regarded as including subsp. pseudisetensis) were statistically evaluated to detect discontinuities in the variation pattern. Three morphotypes were detected: specimens with short stems and long calyx bristles, specimens with short stems and short bristles, and specimens with long stems and short bristles. The first morphotypic group is separated from the others, which are partly overlapping. These groups broadly correspond to L. crenata subsp. crenata, to Scabiosa crenata var. glabriuscula, and to L. crenata subsp. pseudisetensis, respectively.