Karyomorphology of four species in Ancylostemon,Briggsiopsis and Lysionotus (Gesneriaceae)

Reported in the present paper are chromosome numbers and karyotypes of three genera of the Gesneriaceae, i.e. Ancylostemon Craib. , Briggsiopsis (Franch.) K. Y. Pan and Lysionotus D. Don. The former two genera are endemic to China. The karyotype of Ancylostemon aureus (Franch.) Burtt is formulated as 2n = 34 = 20m(1sat) + 14sm, with the same chromosome number as its allied species A. convexus Craib. This species is characterized by the interphase nucleus of complex chromocenter type and the proximal type of chromosomes in the mitotic prophase. The chromosome number of the monospecific genus Briggsiopsis is 2n = 34, the same as the lowest chromosome number reported in Briggsia. The karyotype of Briggsiopsis, which is formulated as 2n = 25m + 6sm + 3st, also seems to be primitive among the species of the two genera. Briggsiopsis is characterized by the interphase nucleus of simple-complex chromocenter type and the interstitial-gradient type of chromosomes in the mitotic prophase. The chromosome number of Lysionotus carnosus Hemsl. is the lowest reported in this genus. Its karyotype is formulated as 2n= 30 = 21m + 5sm + 3st + lt. Lysionotus serratus var. pterocaulis, with the karyotype being formulated as 2n= 32 = 2lm + 10sm + lt, has the same chromosome number as var. serratus. These two species show a remarkable differentiation of karyotypes and are characterized by the interphase nuclei of simple-complex chromocenter type and the gradient type of chromosomes in the mitotic prophase. _ .     

Chromosomal characteristics and karyotype evolution of Oxyopidae spiders (Araneae, Entelegynae)

We made a cytogenetic analysis of four species of Oxyopidae and compared it with the karyotype data of all species of this family. In Hamataliwa sp, the mitotic cells showed 2n♂ = 26+X(1)X(2) and telocentric chromosomes. The 2n♂ = 28, which has been described for only one oxyopid spider, is the highest diploid number reported for this family. Peucetia species exhibited distinct karyotype characteristics, i.e., 2n♂ = 20+X(1)X(2) in P. flava and 2n♂ = 20+X in P. rubrolineata, revealing interspecific chromosome variability within this genus. However, both Peucetia species exhibited telocentric chromosomes. The most unexpected karyotype was encountered in Oxyopes salticus, which presented 2n♂ = 10+X in most individuals and a predominance of biarmed chromosomes. Additionally, one male of the sample of O. salticus was heterozygous for a centric fusion that originated the first chromosomal pair and exhibited one supernumerary chromosome in some cells. Testicular nuclei of Hamataliwa sp and O. salticus revealed NORs on autosomal pairs, after silver impregnation. The majority of Oxyopidae spiders have their karyotype differentiated by both reduction in diploid number chromosome number and change of the sex chromosome system to X type; however, certain species retain the ancestral chromosome constitution 2n = 26+X1X2. The most remarkable karyotype differentiation occurred in O. salticus studied here, which showed the lowest diploid number ever observed in Oxyopidae and the second lowest registered for Entelegynae spiders.     

黄麻两个栽培种及其野生类型与三个近缘种的核型分析

本研究选取黄麻属（Corchorus）2个栽培品种及其4个野生类型和3个野生近缘种为材料,采用常规根尖压片法对黄麻属供试材料的染色体数目和核型进行研究。结果表明：染色体数目均为2n=14。核型公式分别为：宽叶长果（长果黄麻栽培种）2n=2x=14=14m(4SAT);南阳野生长果（长果黄麻野生类型）2n=2x=14=14m(2SAT);坦桑尼亚野生长果（长果黄麻野生类型）2n=2x=14=2M+12m;闽麻5号（圆果黄麻栽培种）2n=2x=14=12m+2sm;爱店野生圆果（圆果黄麻野生类型）2n=2x=14=14m ;廉江野生圆果（圆果黄麻野生类型） 2n=2x=14=4M+10m;假黄麻（黄麻属野生近缘种）2n=2x=14=2M+12m;假长果（黄麻属野生近缘种）2n=2x=14=2M+12m;甜麻（黄麻属野生近缘种）2n=2x=14=14m。其中除了宽叶长果核型分类为1B外,其他的都为1A型。本文还讨论了黄麻野生近缘种甜麻的分类学地位。     

青藏高原4种无心菜属植物的细胞学研究

以四川康定和稻城两个居群的无心菜属（Arenaria）雪灵芝亚属（A. subgen.Eremogoneastrum）的雪灵芝（A.brevipetala Y.W.Tsui et L.H.Zhou）、西藏八宿业拉山和安久拉山两个居群的八宿雪灵芝（A.baxoiensis L.H.Zhou）、西藏当雄和工布江达两个居群的瘦叶雪灵芝（A.ischnophylla Williams）以及西藏拉萨居群的藓状雪灵芝（A.bryophylla Fernald）为研究材料,采用植物根尖常规压片法,对它们的细胞分类学特征进行研究。结果显示：7个居群中,4种植物的染色体数目均为2n=22,为二倍体,核型公式为2n=2x=22=22 m,核型不对称性属于Stebbins's-1A型,AI值在1.75~0.32范围内变化。结合无心菜属已有细胞学资料,推断雪灵芝亚属核型特征原始,染色体数目及倍性稳定。本研究中4种植物的染色体数目和核型资料均为首次报道,补充了青藏高原无心菜属的细胞学资料。     

凤仙花近缘种间核型分析与叶表皮微形态研究

为探究凤仙花近缘种植物的细胞学和微形态学方面的亲缘关系,该文选取荔波凤仙花(Impatiens liboensis)及近缘种赤水凤仙花(I.chishuiensis)和管茎凤仙花(I.tubulosa)的根尖和叶表皮为实验材料,采用体细胞染色体常规压片法和叶表皮光学显微镜观察法对凤仙花近缘种植物进行染色体及叶表皮特征研...     

Chromosome evolution in kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae): cross species chromosome painting between the tammar wallaby and rock wallaby spp. with the 2n = 22 ancestral macropodid karyotype.

Marsupial mammals show extraordinary karyotype stability, with 2n = 14 considered ancestral. However, macropodid marsupials (kangaroos and wallabies) exhibit a considerable variety of karyotypes, with a hypothesised ancestral karyotype of 2n = 22. Speciation and karyotypic diversity in rock wallabies (Petrogale) is exceptional. We used cross species chromosome painting to examine the chromosome evolution between the tammar wallaby (2n = 16) and three 2n = 22 rock wallaby species groups with the putative ancestral karyotype. Hybridization of chromosome paints prepared from flow sorted chromosomes of the tammar wallaby to Petrogale spp., showed that this ancestral karyotype is largely conserved among 2n = 22 rock wallaby species, and confirmed the identity of ancestral chromosomes which fused to produce the bi-armed chromosomes of the 2n = 16 tammar wallaby. These results illustrate the fission-fusion process of karyotype evolution characteristic of the kangaroo group.     

山东四种草本植物的核型研究

本文对山东４种草本植物进行了染色体研究。结果表明：阿尔泰狗哇花（Ｈｅｔｅｒｏｐａｐｐｕｓａｌ ｔａｉｃｕｓ（Ｗｉｌｄ）Ｎａｖｏｐｏｋｒ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝３６,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝３６＝３６ｍ,核型“１Ａ”型;求米草（Ｏｐｌｉｓｍｅｎｕｓｕｎｄｕｌａｔｉｆｏｌｉｕｓ（Ａｒｄｕｉｎｏ）ＲｏｅｍｅｔＳｃｈｕｌｔ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝１２,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝１２＝８ｍ＋４ｓｍ,核型“２Ａ”型;红秋葵（Ｈｉｂｉｓｃｕｓｃｏｃｉｎｅｕｓ（Ｍｅｄｉｃ）Ｗａｌｔ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝３８,核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝３８＝１４ｍ＋２２ｓｍ＋２ｓｔ,核型“２Ｂ”型;蟋蟀草（Ｅｌｅｕｓｉｎｅｉｎｄｉｃａ（Ｌ）Ｇａｅｒｔｎ）的染色体数目为２ｎ＝１８,核型公式为ｋ（２ｎ）＝１８＝１６ｍ＋２ｓｍ,核型“２Ａ”型。     

山东10种植物的核型分析

对山东１０ 种植物进行了核型分析。茴茴蒜（ Ｒａｎｕｎｃｕｌｕｓｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ Ｂｇｅ－） 染色体数目２ｎ ＝１６ , 核型公式Ｋ（２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ ＝ １６ ＝ ２ Ｍ ＋ ２ｍ ＋ ２ｓｍ ＋ １０ｓｔ, “３Ａ”类型; 五脉地椒（ Ｔｈｙｍｕｓｑｕｉｎｑｕｅｃｏｓｔａｔｕｓ Ｃｅｌａｋ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ２６ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ２６ ＝ ８ Ｍ ＋ １８ｍ , “１Ａ”类型; 蛇床（ Ｃｎｉｄｉｕｍ ｍｏｎｎｉｅｒｉ（Ｌ－） Ｃｕｓｓ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ２０ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ２０ ＝ ２Ｍ＋ １６ｍ ＋ ２ｓｍ , “２Ｂ”类型; 波斯菊（ Ｃｏｓｍｏｓ ｂｉｐｉｎｎａｔｕｓ Ｃａｖ－） 染色体数目２ｎ ＝ ２４ , 核型公式Ｋ（２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ ＝ ２４ ＝ １６ｍ ＋ ２ｍ （ｓａｔ） ＋ ６ｓｍ , “２Ａ”类型; 白车轴草（ Ｔｒｉｆｏｌｉｕｍ ｒｅｐｅｎｓ Ｌ－） 染色体数目２ｎ＝ ３２ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ４ｘ ＝ ３２ ＝ ３２ｍ , “１Ａ”类型; 铁苋菜（ Ａｃａｌｙｐｈａ ａｕｓｔｒａｌｉｓ Ｌ－）染色体数目２ｎ ＝ ３２ , 核型公式Ｋ （２ｎ） ＝ ２ｘ＝ ３２ ＝ ３２ｍ , “１Ｂ”类型; 地构叶（ Ｓｐｅｒａｎｓｋｉａ ｔ?     

贵州产蜘蛛抱蛋属植物的细胞分类学研究

报道了6种贵州产蜘蛛抱蛋属植物的染色体数目和核型,并与其相应近缘种对比,联系植物的外部形态特征,探讨核型结构与形态特征的相关性.发现1个种的染色体数目为2n =36,5个种的染色体数目为2n =38,核型公式分别为:平塘蜘蛛抱蛋(Aspidistra pingtangensis),2n =38 =20m +4sm(2sat) +14st;荔波蜘蛛抱蛋(A.liboensis),2n =38 =22m(2sat)+4sm+ 12st;赤水蜘蛛抱蛋(A.chishuiensis),2n =38 =22m(2sat)+8sm +8st;伞柱蜘蛛抱蛋(A.fungilliformis),2n =36=18m (2sat) +4sm+ 14st;四川蜘蛛抱蛋(A.sichuanensis),2n =38 =22m (2sat) +4sm +12st;丛生蜘蛛抱蛋(A caespitosa),2n =38 =20m +6sm(2sat) +12st.核型类型都为2C型.其中平塘蜘蛛抱蛋、荔波蜘蛛抱蛋和赤水蜘蛛抱蛋的染色体数目和核型均为首次报道.研究结果表明,该属植物的核型结构与外部形态特征具有一定的相关性,细胞分类学研究可以为该属植物起源进化研究以及自然分类鉴定提供一定的依据.     

The chromosomes of Cepaea vindobonensis (Pulmonata: Helicidae) and the relationship between this species and the rest of the genus

The karyotype of Cepaea vindobonensis (Pfeiffer) (2 n = 50) is defined and compared with those of C. sylvatica (Draparnaud), C. nemoralis (L.) and C. hortensis (Müller). Cepaea vindobonesis shares its chromosome number with C. sylvatica. The genus Cepaea thus consists of two pairs of species, one with 2 n = 50 the other with 2 n = 44. The karyotype of C. vindobonensis is distinct from that of C. sylvatica as it lacks any discontinuity in its range of chromosome length and has all three of its longest chromosome pairs nearly identical. The two 2 n = 50 species both have an unusual meiotic bivalent showing a 'satellite-type' structure. It is apparent that the 2 n = 50 species are more closely related to each other than to the 2 n = 44 species. No precise definition of the evolutionary history can be given but a working hypothesis is suggested.     

子午岭产4种百合科植物的核型多样性研究

对子午岭产百合科黄精属大苞黄精（Ｐ．ｍｅｇａｐｈｙｌｌｕｍ）、玉竹（Ｐ．ｏｄｏｒａｔｕｍ）,百合属的细叶百合（Ｌ．ｐｕｍｉｌｕｍ）,葱属的糙葶韭（Ａ．ａｎｉｓｏｐｏｄｉｕｍ）４种植物进行了染色体研究。其染色体数目和核型分别为：玉竹２ｎ（２ｘ）＝２０＝１２ｍ（２ＳＡＴ）＋８ｓｍ,核型为２Ｂ型;大苞黄精２ｎ（２ｘ）＝２２＝４ｍ＋１２ｓｍ＋６ｓｔ,核型为３Ｂ型;细叶百合２ｎ（２ｘ）＝２４＝４ｍ＋１０ｓｔ     

A cytogenetic study on three Chilean species of Chrysomelinae (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Three species of Chilean leaf beetles were chromosomally analyzed. The endemic Araucanomela wellingtonensis displays a male meioformula of 13 + Xyp with 2n = 28 chromosomes and an asymmetric karyotype with two large autosome pairs and 12 medium/small pairs of autosomes and sex-chromosomes, a diploid number which had not been found among the other species of the subtribe Paropsina sensu lato studied to date. Strichosa eburata presents a meioformula of 11 + Xyp, 2n = 24 chromosomes, as occurs in many species of chrysomelines belonging to different subtribes. Furthermore, Phaedon cyanopterum has a 16 + Xyp meioformula, that is 2n = 34 chromosomes, of small size mostly, also in agreement with the karyological findings obtained in all the other congeneric species so far examined. These cytogenetic data are discussed with respect to the previous ones in this subfamily and with other characters of taxonomic and evolutionary value.     

野生蔬菜十里香的核型研究

十里香的染色体核型国内一直未见报道,利用根尖压片法对野菜十里香进行核型分析,统计观察了30个准确计数染色体根尖有丝分裂的中期细胞。实验结果表明：野菜十里香的染色体数为2n=22,其核型公式为2n=22=12m＋4sm＋6st。利用有丝分裂过程中的染色体核型,可明确区分马兰属植物在表现型上难以区别的类型。染色体数目、相对长度、着丝粒位置和随体有无等都可以作为马兰属植物的分类指标。     

亚洲苦草与刺苦草的染色体数目和核型

本文以亚洲苦草和刺苦草根尖为实验材料,对其染色体数目及核型进行了研究,结果表明,两个种均为2n=20,同属Stebbins的不对称核型,亚洲苦草为“3B”,刺苦草为“2B”。核型公式分别为:K(2n)=20=2m+12sm+6st,K(2n)=20=2M+2m+14sm+2st。     

国产13种鸢尾属植物的核型研究

对中国产13种鸢尾属Iris植物进行了核型研究。其中中甸鸢尾I.subdichotoma、长葶鸢尾I.delavayi、大锐果鸢尾I.cuniculiformis为中国特有。大锐果鸢尾的染色体数目及核型为首次报道,核型公式为2n=22=4m 6sm 12st(2SAT)。长管鸢尾I.dolichosiphon的核型为首次报道,核型公式为2n=22=4m 12sm 6st。中甸鸢尾的染色体数目为新报道,核型公式为2n=42=20m 22sm。矮紫苞鸢尾I.ruthenicavar.nana的染色体数目为新报道,3个居群的染色体数目均为2n=42,核型公式分别为中甸居群2n=42=30m 12sm(2SAT),丽江甘海子居群2n=42=28m 14sm(2SAT),中甸尼西居群2n=42=36m 6sm(4SAT)。结合以往的细胞学研究结果,显示尼泊尔鸢尾亚属subgen.Nepalensis是一个染色体数目变化较大的类群,其中的中甸鸢尾可能是联系野鸢尾属Pardanthopsis与尼泊尔鸢尾亚属的重要类群。已报道的紫苞鸢尾I.ruthenica染色体数目为2n=84,与我们所研究的变种矮紫苞鸢尾(2n=42)呈倍性关系,通过与相邻类群的分析比较,认为紫苞鸢尾应是由二倍体类群演化而来。还对鸢尾属内染色体数目的变化和核型进化的趋势进行了探讨。     

Evidence for chromosome number reduction and chromosomal homosequentiality in the 24-chromosome Korean frog Rana dybowskii and related species

The karyotype of the Korean frog Rana dybowskii with its pattern of C-band heterochromatin distribution was numerically analyzed. There are 2n = 24 chromosomes in the karyotype representing a reduction in number from the typical 2n = 26 chromosome karyotype of Rana. The karyotype shows other evidence of reorganization relative to 26-chromosome species. The chromosomes grade smoothly in size from largest to smallest without the two size classes that are characteristic for 26-chromosome species. In contrast to many 26-chromosome species, there are few centromeric C-bands but many interstitial ones. C-bands for each homologous chromosome pair are distinctive. A prominent secondary constriction is located on one of the smallest chromosomes, chromosome 11, in a position similar to that seen in most 26-chromosome species. The karyotype of R. dybowskii is compared to those of other species of Rana known to have 2n = 24 chromosomes; it is most similar to that of R. chensinensis, less so that of R. ornativentris and less still to that of R. arvalis in terms of the positions of centromeres and secondary constrictions. C-bands as well as secondary constrictions in the karyotypes of these frogs show evidence of chromosomal homosequentiality. The process and possible consequences of chromosome number reduction from an ancestral 26-chromosome karyotype is also evident in the karyotypes of these closely allied palearctic frogs. Pericentric inversions followed by fusion of two small elements apparently produced a new chromosome, chromosome 6, occurring originally among northeast Asian populations.     

Chromosome numbers and karyotypic evolution of Caraboidea

The chromosome numbers of 136 species of the Spanish caraboid fauna were studied. The most frequent karyotypes are 2n=37 (54 species) and 2n=24 (23 species), and the chromosome number ranges from 2n=21 to 2n=69, of which 2n=69 is the highest diploid number hitherto found among the Coleoptera. It is proposed that 2n=37 is the ancestral karyotype of the division Caraboidea and the suborder Adephaga as opposed to that of the suborder Polyphaga, 2n=20. Karyotypic evolution has led to increases and decreases of this number, both tendencies having taken place in four genera. Species of ten genera show a neo-XY bivalent due to an X-autosome fusion. The thirty-three chromosome numbers of Caraboidea reveal that these Coleoptera have a remarkable karyotypical heterogeneity.     

Karyotype Analysis of Cycas panzhihuaensis L. Zhou et S. Y. Yang

This paper reports chromosome number and karyotype analysis of Cycas panzhihuaensis endemic to China. The material was collected from Dukou, Sichuan. It is a diploid species, with 2n=22=2m+4sm+4st+l2t. The karyotype of Cycas panzhihuaensis is different from that of the other species of the genus Cycas, which was known to be 2n=4m+8st+10t. The former is a new karyotype in the genus. The authors briefly discuss karyotype evolution of the genus Cycas in this papar.     

A Study on Karyotypes of the Genus Lycoris

The genus Lycoris (Amaryllidaceae) consists of about 20 species, all of which are confined to temperate China, Japan and Korea. Cytological investigations, including a reexamination of the karyotypes of 14 taxa, measurements of relative nuclear DNA content, and meiotic configuration observations on some specific forms and interspecific hybrids, have been carried out by the present authors in order to re-evaluate the mode of karyotype evolution and the role of hybridization in the speciation of Lycoris. These have resulted in a new theory for explaining the karyotype evolution in the genus, which will be considered elsewhere. The present paper deals with observations on karyotypes of 11 species, 1 variety and 2 artificial hybrids. Results obtained through karyotype analysis, as shown by the data in Table 1, Plates I-VI and Figs. 1-2, reveal that: (1) the karyotypes of Lycoris rosea, L. radiata var. pumila, L. sprengeri, L. haywardii, L. caldwellii, L. squamigera and L. radiata are, on the whole, consistent with those reported by the previous authors^{[1,2,3,4,5,8,10,12]};(2) the I (rodshaped) chromosomes of L. chinensis and L. longituba are all T’s (telocentric) instead of t’s (acrocentric) or t(Sat)’s; (3) the three materials of L. aurea of different sources have shown a karyotypic differentiation: one with 2n=14=8m+6T, and the others with 2n=16=6m+10T: (4) both of the karyotypes of L. straminea and L. albiflora are 2n=19=3V+6I, inconsistent with 2n=16=6V+10I for the former and with 2n=17=5V+12I for the latter as reported by Inariyama (1953), Bose and Flory (1963) and Kurita (1987). The following aspects are worthwhile discussing: 1. The types of chromosomes. Karyotype analyses reveal the existence of three major chromosome types in Lycoris: (1) m (metacentric) chromosomes: (2) t (acrocentric) chromosomes, with short arms, (3) T (telocentric) chromosomes, sometimes with dot-like terminal centromeres. To distinghish t’s from T’s is of paramount importance for solving the problem of karyotype evolution in Lycoris. Bose (1963) pointed out that in the species with 2n=22, all I chromosomes were t’s, while in species with 2n=12-16, all I chromosomes were T’s. Our results of chromosome observations are consistent with Bose’s remarks. Some authorst^[3,6] have probably mistaken the dot-like terminal centromeres of T’s of L. longituba and L. chinensis as the short arms of t’s. 2. The significance of Robertsonian change in karyotype evolution. Although chromosome numbers and karyotypes are very variable in Lycoris, as shown in Table 1, the total number of arms of a chromosome complement of any species is always multiples of 11. Hence, it seems likely that Robertsonian changes have taken part in karyotype alteration, The genus has a series of basic chromosome numbers: 6, 7, 8 and 11. But which is the most primitive one? It is uncertain whether a successive decrease in chromosome numbers as a result of Robertsonian fusion or a gradual increase in chromosome numbers brought about by fission (fragmentation) has been the essential mechanism for karyotype evolution and speciation in Lycoris. These problems are of crucial importance and will be discussed in our subsequent papers. 3. The origin of polyploids. As evident from Table 1, there are two levels of ploidy differentiation in Lycoris: (1) di ploids with 2n=22 or the equivalent of 22, (2) triploids with 2n=33 or the equivalent of 33. The most common way of origination of triploids in plants is the hybridization of diploids with Tetraploids. But tetraploids have never been found in Lycoris. Thus, it is suggested that the triploids have originated from the combination of an unreduced gamete of a diploid with a normal gamete of another diploid. 4. The role of hybridization in speciation. Results of karyotype analyses show that hybridization has taken an important part in the speciation of Lycoris. Two types of hybrids have been found: (1) 2n=19= 3V+ 16I, L. straminea, L. albiflora and the two artificial hybrids L. sprengeri×L. chinensis and L. haywardii× L. chinensis all possess this karyotype. It could be seen from the above chromosome number and karyotype that this sort of karyotype is exactly half of the total sum of 2n=22I and 2n=16= 6V+10I. It is, therefore, quite evident that taxa possessing this karyotype are all diploid hybrids of 2n=22 and 2n=16, (2) 2n=27=6V+21I, L. caldwellii and L. squamigera possess this karyotype. It is reasonable to assume, too, that they are segmental allotriploids and have arisen from the combination of an unreduced diploid gamete of 2n=16 and a normal haploid gamete of 2n=22. The origin of the hybrid karyotype 2n=17=5V+12I reported by Inari- yama (1953) is similar to that of 2n=19, except that one of the parents possesses 2n=12= 10V+2I instead of 2n=16=6V+10I. The origin of the other hybrid karyotype 2n=30=3V+ 27I reported by Bose (1963) is similar to that of 2n=27, but the diploid gamete comes from taxa possessing 2n=22 instead of 2n=16.     

Karyotype Analyses in Cupressus gigantea

The chromsomal number and karyotype of Cupressus gigantea Cheng et L. K. Fu is reported for the first time. The number of somatic chromosome in root tip cell of the species was found to be 2n=22. According to the terminology defined by Levan et al, the karyotype is 2n=22= 4m(SC)+16m+2sm, belonging to Stebbin's "A" type of karyotypic symmetry which is generally considered as primitive one. By comparing karyotypes of Cupressus gigantean with other four species of Cupressaceae, the author discovered that Cupressus gigantea is a primitive species in Cupressaceae.