Phytoliths of Poaceae from Argentina: III. Leaf phytoliths of some species of the genus Paspalum (Paniceae), from Entre Ríos province

Abstract

Foliar phytolith morphology of 8 species of Paspalum: P. dilatatum Poir., P. lividum Trin. ex
Schltdl., P. nicorae Parodi, P. notatum Flüggé, P. plicatulum Michx., P. saurae Parodi, P. unispicatum Nash and P. urvillei Steud., present in the prairie of Entre Ríos Province, was described. Cluster analysis (UPGMA) and ordination by principal component analysis (PCA) were performed on 49 morphological
characters from the 8 phytolith assemblages (OTUs). Three groups were found, the first one with P. unispicatum, the second one with P. lividum and the third group with [P. dilatatum + (P. notatum + P. saurae)] and [P. nicorae + (P. plicatulum + P. urvillei)] assemblage subgroups. The 8 phytolith assemblages show Panicoid affinity (sensu Twiss, 1992). This analyses supported the infrageneric classification, with an exception in the Dilatata group assemblages (P.dilatatum and P.urvillei).