Morho-anatomical differentiation of the populations of Daphne cneorum L. (Thymelaeaceae) from Serbia

In this study inter-population differentiation of the species Daphne cneorum L. on the basis of morpho-anatomical variability of its three different, geographically distant populations, two from Eastern Serbia and one from Western Serbia was analyzed. The analyzed populations are situated in wide range of altitudes, as well as different geological substrates. The analysis of variance included 20 quantitative characters related to the leaf and stem anatomy and morphology. The results of morpho-anatomical studies have shown the presence of general adaptive characteristics of the xeromorphic type. Multivariate analysis have shown a clear distinction between the carbonate populations of D. cneorum from eastern Serbia (Mt. Rtanj and Mt. Suva planina) and the serpentine populations from western Serbia (Mt. Zlatibor).