Chromosomes of four species in three genera of Commelinaceae from China and their systematic implications |
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Authors: | QIONG YUAN QIN-ER YANG |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China |
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Abstract: | Chromosomes of four species in three genera of Commelinaceae from China were examined. Spatholirion longifolium had 2 n = 20. This small genus is considered to be of a possible polyploid origin based on x = 5, a basic number shared by its closest ally, the monospecific genus Streptolirion , with its only species having 2 n = 10. The two genera were found to be very different from each other in their karyotypic constitution. The differences in both chromosome number (2 n = 20 vs. 10) and karyotypic constitution support their separation as two independent genera. The remaining three species, Amischotolype hispida , Porandra ramosa and P. scandens , all had 2 n = 36. In view of the occasional occurrence of 2 n = 18 in the African Coleotrype , a genus very close to Amischotolype and Porandra in gross morphology, these three species are all very probably polyploid based on x = 9. The high degree of karyotypic similarity of the three genera also strongly indicates their close affinity and supports their placement in the subtribe Coleotrypinae. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 152 , 399–403. |
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Keywords: | Aëthiolirion Amischotolype Coleotrype karyotype Porandra Spatholirion Streptolirion |
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