The diploid species Galium austriacum lives as a glacial relict in a few geographically isolated areas of the Alps. Its corresponding polyploid species and subspecies are widely distributed, and their populations merge with each other. Galium anisophyllum covers all evenly numbered degrees of ploidy between diploidy and decaploidy. Here again, the diploid races are glacial relicts, that form tessellated patterns throughout European mountainous areas. In contrast, the post-glacial octoploids are widely and evenly distributed.
Diploid races live in the formerly unfrozen glacial valleys.
When the ice retreated, tetraploid races re-populated the Alpine ranges and spread from there to Southern Europe. Diploid and tetraploid populations of Asplenium trichomans do not differ morphologically. Diploid races prefer acidic, tetraploid races basic soils. Ranunculus ficaria populations with 2x, 4x, 5x, and 6x occur in Europe. Each of them displays minor, though significant morphological variations.