Numerical taxonomic study of some tribes of Brassicaceae from Egypt

 A systematic study of 45 taxa belonging to 23 genera of tribes Arabideae, Euclidieae, Hesperideae, Lunarieae, Matthioleae and Sisymbrieae of Brassicaceae from Egypt was conducted by means of numerical analysis based on sixty two morphological characters, including vegetative parts, pollen grains and seeds. On the basis of UPGMA clustering and PCO analysis, four main groups are recognised: Lunarieae, Euclidieae, Matthioleae and a mixed group. Representatives of these groups are clustered together based on characters with high factor loading in the PCO analysis. The tribe Euclidieae is the most homogeneous group, and the tribe Arabideae is the most heterogeneous one. Received November 9, 2001; accepted February 21, 2002 Published online: October 14, 2002 Addresses of the authors: K. Abdel Khalik, (e-mail: kadry.elsayedabdelkhalik@wur.nl), L. J. G. van der Maesen (e-mail: jos.vandermaesen@ wur.nl), W. J. M. Koopman, R. G. van der Berg, Group of Biosystematics, Gen. Foulkesweg 37, NL-6703 BL Wageningen, The Netherlands.