Variabilités morphologiques de quelques populations de Plantago albicans L. le long d’un transect nord-sud dans la région du Sud-Oranais (Ouest algérien)

Abstract

Morphological variability of some populations of Plantago albicans L. along a north-south transect in the region of South Oran (Western Algeria) Description of the subject. Plantago albicans is a pastoral psammophyte whose morphological variability is observable in the field. Assessment of the influence of environmental conditions on the morphological characters was studied. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to analyze the morphological variability of some populations of P. albicans in the South Oran region (Western Algeria). Method. Two hundred and forty individuals, divided into 12 populations, were collected along a north-south transect, from different biotopes. These individuals were the subject of morphometric measurements on which univariate and multivariate analyses were applied. Results. The study revealed inter-population variability, which could be related to the combination of site factors and biological diversity of biotopes. Anatomical cuts made on aphyllous axes, erected between the leaf rosette and the root, led to the identification of an adapted anatomical structure of P. albicans which, as the rosette grows, raises the photosynthetic foliage to prevent the plant from being buried under the sand during excessive silting up. Conclusions. Variability of the morphological characteristics of P. albicans (leaf length and width, floral stem length, ear length and aphyllous axis length) reflects a phenotypic plasticity, which produces the phenotype that adapts best to environmental conditions and underlines the species’ capacity to occupy very sandy soil environments.

Keywords

• plantaginaceae
• sand
• phenotypic plasticity
• steppes
• algeria