Metroglyph Analysis of Geographical Complexes in Indian Vetiver

Following the recent finding that the essential-oil from Vetiveria zizanioides growing wild in the Indo-Gangetic belt differed in physico-chemical properties from that obtained from the vetiver raised in plantations in South India, a study of the variability in these two types in respect of a number of quantitative morphological traits was undertaken using the metroglyph analysis method developed by Anderson. Such metroglyph analysis suggested the existence of two morphologically and biochemically differentiated complexes in Indian vetiver. Little can be said as yet about the taxonomic status or mode of origin of these two complexes.