Biogeography, Ecoclines and Ecotypes of Betonica Officinalis (Lamiaceae)

The distribution of betony ( Betonica officinalis L.) is mapped using 390 herbarium specimens from 31 countries (28 European, 2 African and 1 Asian), representing ca 200 localities. Populations from 19 of these localities were used in seed cultivation experiments. Characters that correlate with their biogeography were searched for both in the herbarium material and in the cultivated material. Three genetically determined characters form ecoclines: hairiness of the sepals increases gradually from the west to the east in the distribution area, flowering begins in the northwest, is gradually later towards the south in Europe, and a winter green habit is increasingly pronounced closer to Atlantic environments. The cultured material was clearly divided into three ecotypes, a dwarfy ecotype from dry areas in Yorkshire, England, a prostrate ecotype from the Atlantic coast in France, and the common ecotype characterized by tall growth and large leaves. These ecotypes were also identified in herbaria.