title: [Comparison on botanical morphology in different populations of Changium smyrnioides].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse botanical morphology in different populations and give a reference for germplasm evaluation of Changium smyrnioides.
  
  
  METHODS
  Roots and leaves were comprehensively compared among 10 populations of Ch. smyrnioides in the main distribution area, the foliar morphology similarity coefficient was calculated, and the systematic relationships were constructed based on UPGMA method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant morphological difference among populations of Ch. smyrnioides. Plant shape was divided into the loosed-type, compacted-type and intermediated-type. Leaf split was divided into the lobated-type, parted-type and intermediate-type. Root shape was divided into spherical-type, column-type and spindle-type. Foliar morphology similarity coefficient differed significantly and ranged from 0.234 1 to 0.985 1 among 10 populations of Ch. smyrnioides. Zijinshan population was divided into a unique group when similarity coefficient was 0.37.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plant tightness, lobation depth and root shape could be used as the basis for germplasm evaluation on Ch. smyrnioides. Zijinshan population could be used as a special germplasm to be exploited.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Changlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiaosheng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Zhuangzhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D019661:Apiaceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development