Use of shoot dimensions and microscopic analysis of leaves to distinguish Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and their invasive hybrid Typha xglauca

• Published in: Wetlands ecology and management Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 19 - 33
• Main Authors: Wasko, J. D., McGonigle, T. P., Goldsborough, L. G., Wrubleski, D. A., Badiou, P. H., Armstrong, L. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Apex angle; Aquatic plants; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Decision analysis; Decision trees; Dimensions; DNA sequencing; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Freshwater plants; Hydrology/Water Resources; Leaves; Life Sciences; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Microsatellites; Microscopic analysis; Morphology; Original Paper; Shoots; Typha; Typha angustifolia; Typha latifolia; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Microsatellite; Identification; Leaf-apex angle; Cattail; DNA
• ISSN: 0923-4861; 1572-9834
• DOI: 10.1007/s11273-021-09836-2

The hybrid cattail Typha x glauca Godr. is morphologically intermediate between Typha latifolia L. and Typha angustifolia L. We propose a method to distinguish these taxa based on morphology throughout emergent life stages. We evaluated four traits of gross morphology and four more from microscopic examination of leaf cross sections. All eight traits were assessed for 45 cattails collected from various types of wetlands in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, these shoots being identified by sequencing of microsatellite DNA as 17 specimens of T. latifolia and 14 specimens each for T. angustifolia and T. x glauca . Decision-tree analysis indicated that the single trait of mean leaf-apex angle for all leaves on the shoot was able to correctly align all specimens with their genetic identities. However, single-leaf measurements for leaf-apex angle were successful in this regard in only 80–85% of attempts. Ignoring mean leaf-apex angle and using a combination of all remaining seven traits, 44-out-of-45 samples were aligned correctly. Measurement of mean leaf-apex angle for a shoot can be used to distinguish reliably the parental Typha species and the hybrid. The remaining seven morphological traits can then be employed to provide additional support for determinations, possibly as an alternative to genetic determinations.