Taxonomic and evolutionary implications of intraspecific variability in chromosome numbers of species of Leucaena Benth. (Leguminosae)

Chromosome numbers were determined in 52 individuals of 14 taxa of Leucaena Benth. from 22 populations. For L. cuspidata and L. kmpirana these are the first published chromosome counts. Intraspecific variability was found for L. lempirana, L. macrophjlta and L. shanonii , and one diploid population of the tetraploid species L. pallida was identified. Comparison of our data with those in the literature showed that for L. collinsii and L. macrophylla there is a relationship between chromosome number and subspecies delimitation. The variability detected in chromosome numbers shows the complexity of the diploid and tetraploid species evolution, and suggests multiple origins for some of the polyploid taxa.