Phenotypic and Demographic Variability Among Patches of Maianthemum canadense (Desf.) in Central New Jersey, and the use of Self-Incompatibility for Clone Discrimination

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Abstract
Phenotypic variability, documented for nine patches of Maianthemum canadense (Desf.) at three sites in central New Jersey, did not correspond to presumed environmental differences between sites or correlate with differences in ramet density. More significant differences were found among patches than among sites for ramets/m2, percentage of ramets flowering/m2, percentage of flowering ramets fruiting/m2, flowers/inflorescence, and the per cent hot-water soluble carbohydrates in the fruit pulp. Fruit nutrient characteristics and flowers/inflorescence measures had very low variances within patches, and seem more likely to have been influenced by genetic differences among clones than environmental differences among habitats. Hand-pollination crosses of Maianthemum canadense were made within a patch and between patches. Incompatibility was complete for within-patch crosses, suggesting genetic identity of patch examined. The phenotypic variability described among patches may have a genetic basis.