Multivariate analysis of Ixiolirion tataricum (Pall.) Schult. & Schult.f. based on morphological characteristics

Ixiolirion tataricum is a bulbous geophyte of ecological and ornamental interest, yet its intraspecific morphological diversity remains under-characterized. We evaluated 140 wild accessions collected from 10 locations in Markazi Province (Iran) and recorded 32 stem, leaf, bulb, and floral traits. Analyses included ANOVA, Pearson correlations, principal component analysis (PCA) (Varimax rotation), hierarchical clustering (Ward/Euclidean), and stepwise multiple regression. After excluding uniform characters, 27 traits were retained; ANOVA showed significant among-accession differences for all retained variables. Notably, 22 of 27 traits (81.48%) had CV > 20%, evidencing pronounced phenotypic variability. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations of inflorescence number with leaf number and stem length (p < 0.01). Multiple regression indicated that flower number per inflorescence was most strongly supported by peduncle diameter under the flower (β = 0.40, p ≤ 0.00) and also related to underground stem diameter, inflorescence number, and tepal width; flower length depended chiefly on anther length (β = 0.49, p ≤ 0.00) with contributions from stem length, tepal width, and filament length. PCA extracted eight components explaining 65.70% of total variance; PC1 (21.93%) represented an axis of vegetative vigor and reproductive capacity, loading on underground/stem diameters, leaf number, peduncle diameter, inflorescence and flower numbers, and bulb diameter. I. tataricum exhibits substantial morphological diversity, with strong integration among belowground organs, vegetative growth, and floral traits. Multivariate analyses identified superior accessions with outstanding features: ‘Tafresh-2’ (highest inflorescence number, longest flower and stem length), ‘Komijan-5’ (widest bulb diameter), and ‘Ghanyaroogh-11’, ‘Ban-8’, ‘Hezaveh-15’, ‘Hendoodar-15’ (most flowers per inflorescence). Additional high-performing genotypes included ‘Komijan-3’, ‘Farmahin-13’, ‘Ghanyaroogh-12’, ‘Farmahin-3’, ‘Farmahin-9’, ‘Farmahin-2’, ‘Hezaveh-1’, ‘Khomein-2’, ‘Komijan-1’, ‘Komijan-2’, ‘Ashtian-3’, ‘Ashtian-9’, ‘Shazand-8’, and ‘Farmahin-8’. These findings provide a reliable framework for conservation and the selection of elite genotypes in ornamental horticulture.