The Sudetic group of Hieracium subgen. Pilosella from the Krkonoše Mts: a synthetic view.

The present paper summarizes the results of research of Hieracium subgen. Pilosella done by using different methods. The apomictic complex of Hieracium subgen. Pilosella found in the Krkonoše Mts, consists of the following basic species: H. lactucella (2x, sexual), H. onegense (2x, sexual), H. pilosella (4x, sexual), H. caespitosum (4x, apomictic) and H. aurantiacum (4x and 5x, apomictic). These species are considered to be the parents of a further set of mostly apomictic hybridogenous types. The ploidy level, breeding system, isozyme phenotypes, chloroplast haplotypes and geographic distribution of this whole complex was analysed. The different hybridogenous types have different frequencies in the field and differ in the frequency of isozyme phenotypes (a conservative estimate of the number of genotypes). Most have uniform chloroplast haplotypes, but some haplotypes could have originated from reciprocal crosses. The comparison of chloroplast haplotypes suggests that apomictic species were not only pollen donors, but also contributed seed and gave rise to several hybridogenous types, illustrating the importance of the residual sexuality of apomicts in this group. H. pilosella is a central species in this group and is connected with other parental species, H. floribundum, H. lactucella and H. aurantiacum by a set of hybridogenous species that have a similar genetic structure. Some of the distinct hybridogenous types within the complex are of multiple origin. In contrast, crosses between the same parental types may generate diverse progenies, which can often be classified as distinct taxa. All taxa recorded in the past are surveyed and discussed with respect to present knowledge. We suggest that the taxonomy and origin of particular entities of this and other such complexes is best resolved using information from morphological, genetical, cytological and ecological studies.