Population genetic analyses of an amphi‐Atlantic species: Lychnis alpina (Caryophyllaceae)

Lychnis alpina is a perennial caryophyllaceous plant with an amphi‐Atlantic distribution. 27 populations are described on the basis of allozyme data from 11 electro‐phoretic loci. L. alpina has a relatively low level of genetic variation, 3 of the loci are polymorphic ( P., % = 20.2%) and the mean expected heterozygosity per indivindual is H 3 = 0.233 the three polymorphic loci included (H = 0.064, 11 loci included). Despite relatively low level of genetic variation, the genetic diversity among populations is relatively high with F ST = 0.51. A hierarchial analysis of genetic diversity demonstrates that most of the genetic diversity exists as interpopulational, intra‐regional diversity. Genetic identity is not associated with the intercontinental geographical distribution of the populations, neither is the diversity correspondant to taxonomic relationships.