Data from: Developmental plasticity, morphological variation and evolvability: a multilevel analysis of morphometric integration in the shape of compound leaves

The structure of compound leaves provides flexibility for morphological
change by variation in the shapes, sizes and arrangement of leaflets. Here
we conduct a multilevel analysis of shape variation in compound leaves to
explore the developmental plasticity and evolutionary potential that are
the basis of diversification in leaf shape. We use the methods of
geometric morphometrics to study the shapes of individual leaflets and
whole leaves in 20 taxa of Potentilla (sensu lato). A newly developed test
based on the bootstrap approach suggests that uncertainty in the molecular
phylogeny precludes firm conclusions whether there is a phylogenetic
signal in the data on leaf shape. For variation among taxa, variation
within taxa, as well as fluctuating asymmetry, there is evidence of strong
morphological integration. The patterns of variation are similar across
all three levels, suggesting that integration within taxa may act as a
constraint on evolutionary change.