Genetic Variation in the Epacris Tasmanica Complex (epacridaceae)

Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers (RAPD) were used ro delimit species in the tj}(1cris tas/J1rmica complex (Epacridaceae) collected from various locations in Tasmania, Australia. The RAPD analysis placed morphologically similar taxa located closely geographically into discrete dusters. However, geographically distant populations of morphometrically similar taxa, such as rhe southern and northern Tasmanian populations of E. vhgata and E fasmat/iea, were less closely related to each other than those taxa classified as different species. The most geographically remote population (E glabella [Serpentine Hill]) shared the least genetic similarities with rhe other taxa. The genetic information obrained from this study reinforces some previous morphometric dam used to delimit species in the E. trlsmanica complex. Furthermore, the strong geographical structure of the genetic variation is consistent with a model in which gene flow between populations is limited.