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Genetic Divergence Within The Genus Liriodendron (Magnoliaceae), Jonathan F. Wendel, Clifford R. Parks, Norton G. Miller, Karen M. Mcdougal

Jonathan F. Wendel

The genus Liriodendron L. consists of a southeast Asian-eastern North American disjunct species pair, but the genus had a much wider distribution in the Northern Hemisphere during the late Cretaceous and the Tertiary. Although generally similar in morphology, the two extant species are measurably different. In 1973 and 1977 they were hybridized, and interspecific heterosis was observed in the progeny. After seven years, the interspecific hybrids synthesized in 1973 had a significantly greater biomass than intraspecific hybrids of L. tulipifera. The growth rate of interspecific and intraspecific F2 seedlings was approximately equal. A preliminary survey of flavonoid extracts in L. …