| Abstract: | Considerable karyotypic differentiation has occurred within the group of taxa comprising the eastern North American members of the genus Claytonia. Patterns of karyotypic differentiation are congruent with evolutionary groupings based on flavonoid chemistry, particularly at the diploid level. The 2n = 16 diploid chemotype found in both C. caroliniana and C. virginica possesses a karyotype composed entirely of metacentric chromosomes, while acrocentric chromosomes predominate in the karyotypes of the 2n = 12 and 2n = 14 diploid chemotypes of C. virginica. The 2n = 16 diploid also has a karyotype significantly larger than those of the other diploid cytotypes. Polyploid karyotypes of both species show varying degrees of divergence from their presumed diploid progenitors. |
