ABSTRACT Background There is considerable concern that the native British bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Asparagaceae) is at risk due to hybridisation with naturalised British non-native bluebells. However, the taxonomic identity of British non-natives is uncertain, and they are either referred to as Spanish bluebells, H. hispanica, or as hybrids between H. non-scripta and H. hispanica. Aims To establish whether a detailed morphological analysis can shed light on the taxonomic identity of non-native British bluebells. Methods We measured 28 morphological characters and recorded the pollen fertility of native and non-native bluebells in Britain and compared these with H. hispanica populations from Portugal. Results British non-native bluebells appeared morphologically close to H. hispanica but occupied a separate phenotypic space. All three taxa showed high morphological variability with overlapping ranges, however, at least 92.8% of trait means were significantly different between any pair-wise taxon comparison. Sixty per cent of continuous traits were significantly larger in British non-native bluebells compared to H. non-scripta and H. hispanica. In contrast, pollen fertility was significantly lower in British non-natives (79%) compared to H. non-scripta (94%) and H. hispanica (84%). Conclusions These results are consistent with, however, do not provide conclusive evidence for, the possible hybrid status of British non-native bluebells.

中文翻译：

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英国本地和非本地风信子的形态和花粉生育力

摘要 背景 由于与归化的英国非本地风信子杂交，英国本土风信子 Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Asparagaceae) 面临风险，这一点备受关注。然而，英国非本地人的分类身份并不确定，它们要么被称为西班牙风信子，H. hispanica，要么被称为 H. non-scripta 和 H. hispanica 的杂交种。目的 确定详细的形态学分析是否可以阐明非本地英国风信子的分类身份。方法我们测量了28个形态特征并记录了英国本地和非本地风信子的花粉生育力，并将这些与来自葡萄牙的H. hispanica种群进行了比较。结果 英国非本地风信子在形态上与 H. hispanica 相似，但占据单独的表型空间。所有三个分类群都表现出高度的形态变异性和重叠范围，然而，至少 92.8% 的性状平均值在任何成对分类群比较之间有显着差异。与 H. non-scripta 和 H. hispanica 相比，英国非本地风信子的 60% 的连续性状明显更大。相比之下，与 H. non-scripta (94%) 和 H. hispanica (84%) 相比，英国非本地人 (79%) 的花粉生育率明显较低。结论 这些结果与英国非本地风信子可能的杂交状态一致，但并未提供确凿的证据。与 H. non-scripta 和 H. hispanica 相比，英国非本地风信子的 60% 的连续性状明显更大。相比之下，与 H. non-scripta (94%) 和 H. hispanica (84%) 相比，英国非本地人 (79%) 的花粉生育率明显较低。结论 这些结果与英国非本地风信子可能的杂交状态一致，但并未提供确凿的证据。与 H. non-scripta 和 H. hispanica 相比，英国非本地风信子的 60% 的连续性状明显更大。相比之下，与 H. non-scripta (94%) 和 H. hispanica (84%) 相比，英国非本地人 (79%) 的花粉生育率明显较低。结论 这些结果与英国非本地风信子可能的杂交状态一致，但并未提供确凿的证据。