Numerical and Chemotaxonomy of the Green Foxtail Complex

The phenetic relationships of green foxtail [Setaria viridisvar.viridis(L.) Beauv.] and its allies were examined by numerical and chemotaxonomic methods. Correlation coefficients and taxonomic distances based on quantitative data from 31 characters displayed close phenetic similarities among green foxtail, its varieties and foxtail millet [S. italica(L.) Beauv.]. Isolation and separation of 35 alcohol-soluble compounds by two dimensional paper chromatography supported the numerical comparisons. By combining all characters examined, the resulting cluster analysis displayed the closest similarity between robust white (S. viridisvar.robusta-albaSchreiber), robust purple (S. viridisvar.robusta-purpureaSchreiber) and giant green foxtail [S. viridisvar.major(Gaudin.) Posp.] indicating that the robust foxtails may be subvarieties of giant green foxtail rather than of green foxtail. The numerical, morphological and chemical comparisons support the proposed phylogeny of the Old World foxtails and indicate green foxtail as the probable center of ancestorial origin.