In article , P van Rijckevorsel
writes
Great!
Polyploids have their own mechanisms of sexual isolation come.
However I expect it will be a lot harder to find a set of four diploid
species. This almost surely will require a geographical component.
Perhaps in Azolla
Azolla caroliniana
Azolla filiculoides
Azolla microphylla
Azolla mexicana
http://www.botany2002.org/section11/abstracts/4.shtml
http://www.jaknouse.athens.oh.us/ferns/g_azol.html
It's not clear whether Aa. microphylla and mexicana represent one or two
hybridisation events. (Or even zero, depending on whether you accept the
position given in the first link,)
In
addition, with today's tradition of lumping most taxonomists would say
"four populations of plants that are interbreeding? Must be one
species"
PvR
Not always; at least I don't think anyone has proposed sinking the white
oak syngameon into a single species (Quercus robur?). More particularly,
Q. robur and Q. petraea are still recognised, as are Betula pendula and
Betula pubescens, even tho' both pairs of species hybridise extensively.
Similarly in Salix.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley