Notes on Mexican grasses IX. Miscellaneous chromosome numbers—3

Chromosome numbers are reported for 105 collections which represent 59 species belonging to 35 genera. For two of these genera:Blepharoneuron andTriniochloa no documented chromosome counts have been published to date. Records for the following species:Aristida arizonica, A. pansa, A. schiedeana, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Deschampsia pringlei, Eragrostis palmeri,Leptochloa viscida, Munroa squarrosa, Panicum vaseyanum, Setaria grisebachii, andTriniochloa stipoides are the first for these taxa. Counts of 2n = 28 forAgrostis perennans, 2n = 20 forAegopogon cenchroides, 2n = 20 forBuchloË dactyloides, 2n = 54 forDigitaria filiformis, 2n = 60 and 2n = ca. 74 forEragrostis intermedia, 2n = 32 forErioneuron grandiflorum andE. pilosum, 2n = 44 forHilaria cenchroides, 2n = 38 and 2n = ca. 180 forHilaria mutica, 2n = 40 forPereilema crinitum, 2n = 28 forScleropogon brevifolius, 2n = ca. 108 forSetaria leucopila, and 2n = 36 forOplismenus burmannii are different from any published report for these species. Cytological information on Mexican material of the following ten species:Agrostis perennans, Aristida hamulosa,Bouteloua aristidoides, Eragrostis cilianensis, Sporobolus nealleyi, Tridens muticus,Digitaria filiformis, Hackelochloa granularis, Oplismenus burmannii, andPennisetum ciliare is here presented for the first time.     

Morphological and molecular (RAPD) analyses confirm the hybrid origin of the diploid grassCalamagrostis longiseta var.longe-aristata (Gramineae)

To examine the hybrid origin of the diploid grassCalamagrostis longiseta var.longe-aristata, we performed morphometric and genetic analyses of this taxon and its putative parental taxa. The morphometric analyses revealed that, in general,C. longiseta var.longe-aristata is morphologically intermediate betweenC. longiseta var.longiseta andC. fauriei. Previous studies have reported that some hybrids exhibit transgressive characters but others do not; the latter is the case forC. longiseta var.longe-aristata. Their absence may be due to the ecological adaptation to environments intermediate between those inhabited by the putative parental taxa, and therefore the transgressive characters have not been selected. Nevertheless, there is no direct evidence for adaptive value of the characters examined in this study and only a small part of all characters potentially responsible for adaptation was investigated. An alternative hypothesis about the absence of transgressive characters inC. longiseta var.longe-aristata is that it is at an early stage of hybrid speciation. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses showed that individuals ofC. longiseta var.longe-aristata were placed in both of the clusters formed by each putative parental taxon. Greater genetic diversity was observed inC. longiseta var.longe-aristata than in its putative parental taxa. All here reported findings support the scenario thatC. longiseta var.longe-aristata is of hybrid origin, having evolved fromC. longiseta var.longiseta andC. fauriei.     

Chromosome numbers of Mongolian Angiosperms. II.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 20 collections of Mongolian plants representing 19 taxa. The first chromosome records are reported forArabidopsis mongolica (2n=16),Caragana pygmaea (2n=16),Isatis costata var.leiocarpa (2n=28),Lophanthus chinensis (2n=18) andStevenia cheiranthoides (2n=32). Counts partly differing from those previously recorded are given forBatrachium trichophyllum subsp.trichophyllum (2n=32+0-2B, 36+6B),Cuscuta chinensis (2n=60),Dracocephalum fragile (2n=72) andErysimum flavum (2n=14). Chromosome numbers of the following taxa were confirmed:Astragalus monophyllus (2n=16),Erodium stephanianum (2n=16),Gastrolychnis apetala (2n=24),Geum aleppicum (2n=42),Linum baicalense (2n=18),Rorippa palustris (2n=32),Rubia cordifolia subsp.pratensis (2n=22),Schizonepeta multifida (2n=12),Tribulus terrestris (2n=36) andVicia cracca (2n=14). Taxonomic remarks onArabidopsis mongolia, Erysimum flavum, Stevenia cheiranthoides andVicia cracca are added. A new combinationArabidopsis mongolica (Botsch.)Měsí?ek & Soják is proposed.     

Chromosome number determinations in Aster section Conyzopsis (Asteraceae)

Chromosome numbers forAster brachyactis, A. frondosus, andA. laurentianus were determined to be 2n=14. The latter two are the first documented records for these taxa. The basic chromosome number for sectionConyzopsis is confirmed asx=7.     

Population studies in Goodyera (Orchidaceae) with emphasis on the hybrid origin of G. Tesselata

Morphological, cytological, and paper Chromatographic studies of populations from northern Michigan and examination of herbarium specimens from throughout North America were used to clarify the relationships ofGoodyera oblongifolia, G. repens var.ophioides, andG. tesselata. A canonical analysis of morphological data from mixed populations of these three species depictsG. tesselata as intermediate betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides. The latter two species are diploid (2n = 30) andG. tesselata is tetraploid (2n = 60). Triploids (2n = ca. 45) were found in two mixed-species populations in northern Michigan.Goodyera tesselata produces three phenolic compounds present inG. oblongifolia and five different compounds present inG. repens var.ophioides. The range ofG. tesselata is confined to glaciated territory (except for two stations) in northeastern North America where the postglacially produced ranges ofG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides overlap. However,G. tesselata is quite abundant in areas outside the region of sympatry of the other two species. Based on this evidence, it is postulated thatG. tesselata is an allotetraploid species which resulted from hybridization betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides during early post-Pleistocene. The slightly earlier blooming season ofG. tesselata may have been selected for to provide a measure of reproductive isolation between the tetraploid and its parents and to adapt the new species to the rather short growing season of northeastern North America.     

New chromosome numbers for plant taxa endemic to the Balearic Islands

Mitotic chromosome numbers are reported from 25 vascular plant taxa, endemic to the Balearic Islands that are poorly known cytogenetically. The chromosome numbers ofAnthyllis vulneraria subsp.balearica (2n=12),Cymbalaria fragilis (2n=56), andPolygonum romanum subsp.balearicum (2n=40) were determined for the first time. A new chromosome number was found in several populations ofAnthyllis hystrix (2n=70) suggesting that this species is decaploid, in contrast to an earlier work reporting a higher ploidy level (2n=12x=84). The new chromosome number 2n=32 was reported inHypericum hircinum subsp.cambessedesii. It is suggested that the previous count (2n=40) could be explained by the presence of anomalous pentaploid cells in some tissues, contrating with the presence of a regular tetraploid complement (2n=32). Cytogenetic observations suggest thatSibthorpia africana has a diploid chromosome complement of 2n=18, with 0–2 accessory chromosomes. Accessory chromosomes are also reported forPhlomis italica, being the first record of B chromosomes in this genus. Chromosomal instability was found inGalium crespianum andG. friedichii species, with three numbers 2n=44, 55 and 66. Two cytotypes differing in ploidy level were documented within single plants. It is suggested that both species share a regular complement of 2n=44 and that the past hybridization events and formation of regenerating roots from the typical rootstock ofG. crespianum andG. friedrichii could be involved in the genesis of chromosome variants through partial endopolyploidy and concomitant somatic segregation.     

Chromosome numbers of severalLamiaceae from Spain

Chromosome numbers of twenty taxa, almost all of them Iberian endemics, of the generaTeucrium, Sideritis, Thymus andSalvia are reported. New chromosome numbers are given for the following taxa:Teucrium homotrichum (2n=78),T. hifacense (2n=26),T. rivasii (2n=26),T. rivas-martinezii (2n=26),Sideritis edetana (2n=30),S. murgetana subsp.littoralis (2n=28), and the hybridS. xviciosoi (2n=27). The first count on Iberian material forSalvia pratensis (2n=18) is reported. Chromosome numbers have been confirmed for the rest of the taxa studied on material from SE Spain. Karyotype analyses and taxonomic remarks are included.     

Chromosome numbers within the genusBolboschoenus in Central Europe

Two chromosome numbers n=54, n=55 were found inBolboschoenus plants studied from Central Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland) and coastal regions of Europe (the Netherlands, Sweden). The number n=55 is typical forB. maritimus subsp.maritimus with narrow fruits and mostly also forB. maritimus subsp.compactus; the number n=54 characterizesB. planiculmis auct. The morphological type ofB. maritimus subsp.maritimus with wide fruits represents a stable taxon occurring in freshwater habitats throughout Europe. Its variation in chromosome numbers (both n=54, n=55) indicates a possible hybrid origin, probably resulting from hybridization betweenB. maritimus subsp.maritimus with narrow fruits andB. planiculmis auct. Spontaneous hybridization betweenBolboschoenus taxa in the regions with mixed populations may explain the origin of the intermediate morphological and anatomical characters of plants from some localities and the deviations in chromosome numbers.     

Genome size discriminates between closely related taxaElytrigia repens andE. intermedia (Poaceae: Triticeae) and their hybrid

Flow cytometric and karyological investigations were performed on the closely related taxaElytrigia repens andE. intermedia (Poaceae: Triticeae) from the Czech Republic. DNA-hexaploids clearly prevailed among 238 examined plants and amounted to 96.2% of all samples. 2C-values ± s.d. for hexaploidElytrigia repens andE. intermedia were estimated at 23.27 ± 0.20 pg and 27.04 ± 0.24 pg respectively. Genome size thus allowed reliable separation of the two species (difference ca. 16%) as well as the identification of hybrid individuals. Natural hybridization inE. repens — E. intermedia alliance seems to be quite a common phenomenon as indicated from a large proportion (one sixth) of hexaploid samples with intermediate 2C-values. Previously, the crosses were most probably overlooked or misidentified due to their weak morphological differentiation. New nonaploid cytotypes (2n=9x=63) were revealed for both species as well as for the hybrid (determined on the basis of morphological characters only), representing the first records from the field. Fusion of unreduced and reduced gametes of the hexaploids is the most plausible mode of nonaploid origin.     

Chromosome numbers for native North American unifoliolate species of Crotalaria (Leguminosae)

Chromosome counts are reported for nine taxa of the genusCrotalaria. Previous reports ofn = 16 are confirmed forC. sagittalis L. andC. stipularia Desv. First counts ofn = 16 are reported forC. bupleurifolia var.bupleurifolia, C. nayaritensis, C. polyphylla,C. purshii, C. quercetorum, C. rotundifolia var.rotundifolia, andC. rotundifolia var.vulgaris.     

Karyological and taxonomical notes on three species of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic">Epipactis (Neottioideae,Orchidaceae)</Emphasis> in the central-western Iberian Peninsula

Studies on the karyotypes and chromosome numbers of species ofEpipactis from the central-western Iberian Peninsula show that the species harbour enormous chromosome variability, have very asymmetric karyotypes and possess extraordinary diversity of aneuploidy. This paper provides the first report of a chromosome number forE. fageticola (2n=36, 40 + 0–2 B), as well as the first counts for Portuguese populations ofE. helleborine (2n=18, 32, 38) and first counts for Iberian populations ofE. tremolsii (n=20, 30, 2n=16, 24, 32, 34, 36, 38 + 1B, 40 + 1B, 52, 60). Among populations ofE. tremolsii there is a significant differentiation in ecology and somatic chromosome number, suggesting that there may be two different taxa in the region studied. Chromosomes are large to small, ranging in length from 10.8 μm to 1.8 μm. Karyotype asymmetry is of type 3C inE. fageticola andE. tremolsii and 2C inE. helleborine andE. tremolsii.     

Chromosome number variability in central european members of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca ovina</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">F. pallens</Emphasis> groups (sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Festuca</Emphasis>)

Chromosome numbers for 98 plants ofF. pallens, 19 ofF. psammophila, F. belensis andF. vaginata, and 44 ofF. ovina (originating from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia and Latvia) are given. In addition to theF. ovina andF. pallens groups, chromosome counts for the following taxa are also reported:F. alpestris (2n=14) reported for the first time in this work,F. amethystina subsp.amethystina (2n=28),F. brevipila (2n=42),F. cinerea (2n=28),F. rupicola subsp.rupicola (2n=42) andF. versicolor subsp.versicolor (2n=14).InF. pallens, two ploidy levels (2n=2x=14+0-1B, 2n=4x=28+0-1B) as well as two natural triploid plants (2n=21+0-1B), were found. In addition to the fourF. pallens types that have been distinguished in Austria, one new tetraploid type (F. pallens “scabrifolia”) from the Czech Republic and Germany is reported and its taxonomy is discussed. The distributions of the Oberösterreich-Niederösterreich and Pannonisches-HügellandF. pallens types outside of Austria are documented.Only the diploid chromosome number (2n=14) was found inF. psammophila andF. vaginata. Chromosome numbers forF. psammophila subsp.muellerstollii andF. belensis (both 2n=14) were determined here for the first time. Two ploidy levels, 2n=14+0-5B corresponding toF. ovina subsp.ovina and 2n=28 corresponding toF. ovina subsp.guestphalica andF. cf.duernsteinensis were confirmed inF. ovina. Differences in chromosome structure (simple and multiple secondary constrictions) betweenF. pallens as opposed toF. psammophila andF. vaginata are discussed. A complete survey of published chromosome counts for Central European species from theF. ovina andF. pallens groups is included.     

Natural hybridization in JapaneseCalamagrostis

Relationships amongCalamagrostis longiseta var.longiseta, C.l. var.longe-aristata andC. fauriei, which are principally at the 2n=28 chromosome level, were studied mainly on the basis of population samples. The populations comprised (1) “pure” populations of each ofC.l. longiseta, C.l. longe-aristata andC. fauriei and (2) populations showing a gradation fromC.l. longiseta toC. fauriei via the intermediateC.l. longearistata and fromC.l. longiseta toC.l. longe-aristata. Hybridization betweenC.l. longiseta andC. fauriei was estimated to be ultimately related to the geneses of the population structures detected, and it was concluded thatC.l. longe-aristata must be of hybrid origin betweenC.l. longiseta andC. fauriei. Populations showing a gradation fromC.l. longiseta toC.l. longe-aristata were regarded to have been brought about by the extinction ofC. fauriei from the hybridizing population coupled with the change of environments and also by the secondary contact betweenC.l. longiseta and plants ofC.l. longe-aristata migrating from the area that produced it. No significant reduction of pollen fertility and seed productivity was found inC.l. longe-aristata. Based on the results of population analyses, the delimitation of the taxa concerned was made clearer. The examination of herbarium specimens showed that the range ofC.l. longe-aristata considerably exceeds the overlapping area of the present ranges ofC.l. longiseta andC. fauriei. The three taxa were deviated ecologically, and “pure” populations ofC.l. longe-aristata were found on several damp subalpine fields in central and northern Honshu that seemed to represent the most suitable niche for this taxon. It was estimated thatC.l. longe-aristata would evolve into a new good species if the future organism-environment interactions are favorable for it.     

Karyological studies in IberianSonchus (Asteraceae: Lactuceae): S. oleraceus, S. microcephalus andS. asper and a general discussion

Chromosome numbers and karyotypes ofSonchus oleraceus (n=16, 2n=32),S. asper (n=9, 2n=18 for subsp.asper and subsp.glaucescens, andS. microcephalus (n=15, 2n=30) are studied; for the first time their idiograms are given. Karyotypes mainly comprise small chromosomes with a degree of asymmetry 2B inS. oleraceus andS. microcephalus and 2A or 2A-2B inS. asper. No karyological differences can be pointed out betweenS. asper subspecies. Data presented support the amphiploid character ofS. oleraceus, and the origin ofS. microcephalus through a dysploid process involving the former taxon. In Iberian representatives of the genus, diagrams of karyotype asymmetry indices show a cluster grouping for species, with the detached exceptions ofS. maritimus andS. crassifolius, which spontaneously hybridize in central Spain. A review of available karyological data shows that in the evolution of the genusSonchus s.l. and relatives, the basic chromosome number x=9 has generally been maintained. Dysploidy is restricted to the seriesS. bourgeaui (n=8) —S. tenerrimus (n=7) andS. oleraceus (n=16) —S. microcephalus (n=15), evolutionarily related and included in the present subgenusSonchus. Polyploidy has been detected in a total of nine taxa ofSonchus and in the generaEmbergeria, Kirkianella, andDendroseris, being more common in peripheral regions of the distribution area of the group. Five diversification centers are proposed for the whole group, of which the Western Mediterranean area, including the Iberian Peninsula, is related to diversification of the present subgenusSonchus.     

Taxonomy of theHieracium alpinum group in the sudeten Mts., the West and the Ukrainian East Carpathians

A taxonomic revision of theHieracium alpinum group (sensu Flora Europaea) in the Sudeten Mts., the West and the Ukrainian East Carpathians is provided. Six species are distinguished in the area studied, viz.Hieracium alpinum, H. halleri, H. augusti-bayeri, H. melanocephalum, H. tubulosum, andH. schustleri. H. alpinum occurs throughout the mountain ranges studied, three other taxa are endemic to the Sudeten Mts. (H. melanocephalum, H. tubulosum, H. schustleri), one is confined to the West Carpathians (H. halleri, in addition to the Alps) and one is endemic to the Ukrainian East Carpathians (H. augusti-bayeri). A diploid cytotype (2n=18) was ascertained inH. alpinum from the Ukrainian East Carpathians and the same chromosome number was found forH. augusti-bayeri. An agamospermous mode of reproduction was confirmed for the triploid cytotype ofH. alpinum, the triploidH. melanocephalum andH. halleri and the tetraploidsH. tubulosum andH. schustleri; the diploid taxa were found to be sexual. Pollen production in diploid taxa is high and pollen grains are homogeneous in size; triploid species, as well as tetraploidH. tubulosum, do not produce polllen; tetraploidH. schustleri has pollen grains of variable size. Data on the ecology and distribution of the species are also given.     

Selected chromosome counts of the Czechoslovak flora I

Chromosome numbers of the following nine taxa of the Czechoslovak flora are given:Atriplex rosea L.,Cardamine resedifolia L.,Groenlandia densa (L.)Fourr.,Isoëtes lacustris L.,Lysimachia nemorum L.,Parnassia palustris L.,Phelipanche caesia (Rchb.) Soják,Rumex patientia L. subsp.patientia andSymphytum officinale L. s. str. A new chromosome number of 2n=80 is reported forRumex patientia L. subsp.patientia. Chromosome numbers of another five taxa are first reported from Czechoslovakia. Each of the ascertained chromosome counts is discussed with respect to hitherto known reports.     

Chemotaxonomy of some Paleozoic vascular plants. Part II: Chemical characterization of major plant groups

Chemical data are given forCooksonia, Rhynia, Zosterophyllum, Pseudosporochnus, Gosslingia,Crenaticaulis, Leclercqia, Tetraxylopteris, Oocampsa, andArchaeopteris, thus extending principal component analysis of multi-state and discrete characters to 27 Paleozoic plant taxa. Ordination patterns of these data suggest that while overlapping of major plant groups occurs, rhyniophytes, zosterophyllophytes, trimerophytes and other supra-generic taxa may be chemically characterized. The effects of heat (thermolysis) on organic constituents is shown to severely alter chemical profiles of plant taxa and is discussed as a thermometric tool. Taxonomic distancemeasures between plant groupings are suggested to be the result of both preand post-fossilization phenomena.     

Karyosystematics ofVeronica sect.Beccabunga (Scrophulariaceae) with special reference to the taxa in Turkey

The chromosome numbers ofVeronica beccabunga subsp.abscondita (2n=18),V. anagallis-aquatica subsp.lysimachioides (2n=18),V. anagallis-aquatica subsp.michauxii (2n=36), and of a presumable hybridV. poljensis × V. anagalloides (2n=36) are new for the relevant taxa. — A new number was found forV. anagalloides subsp.heureka (2n=18). The other counts, ofV. scardica (2n=18),V. anagalloides subsp.anagalloides (2n=18), andV. anagallis-aquatica subsp.oxycarpa (2n=36) agree with earlier findings.—Data from the literature have been critically evaluated, in some cases the relevant vouchers have been checked and, where needed, the original determinations have been revised. For several taxa, comments concerning their systematics and remarks on their distribution in Turkey are given.     

Stuessya (Asteraceae: Heliantheae), a new genus from southcentral Mexico

Stuessya, a new genus from the Pacific slopes of southcentral Mexico is described. It is comprised of three species:S. apiculata, previously assigned to the genusViguiera;S. perennans, the generotype; andS. michoacana. The latter two taxa are previously undescribed. The genus is characterized by its urceolate, sclerified (at maturity) involucre. Chromosome counts of2n = 34 are reported forS. perennans. Relationships are problematical, but are reckoned to be somewhere betweenAldama andViguiera.     

Chromosome numbers of the genusCalamagrostis in Japan

Chromosome counts for 783 collection ofCalamagrostis in Japan are reported. These include the first record forC. tashiroi and the reports of new cytotypes inC. stricta, C. hakonensis andC. longiseta. The geographical distribution of different cytotypes ofC. langsdorffii andC. hakonensis is outlined. Counts are also reported for a number of “intermediates” which are supposed to be interspecific hybrids or hybrid derivatives. A summary of chromosome counts for JapaneseCalamagrostis so far recorded is tabulated. No diploid plants with 2n=14 chromosomes are found. The tetraploid taxa, which are plentiful and seem to have adaptively radiated in Japan, jack any sign suggestive of their recent origin from the diploids. It is suggested that plant with 2n=28 (4X in the traditional sense) may be regarded as semidiploid and having that behavior, and that speciation ofCalamagrostis in Japan has occurred principally at this chromosome level. Speciation by means of amphiploidy may have been scarce. It is also suggested that hybridization and polyploidy have greatly contributed to the formation of complicated internal structure of various species.