| Abstract: | Cytological, morphological, and geographical studies of Epilobium angustifoliumin China reveal two partly distinct, partly overlapping entities that are best treated as subspecies. The diploid (n=18) subsp. angustifolium has smaller, triporate pollen grains, typicallyglabrous stems and leaves, and smaller leaves and flowers, and occurs in colder, more northernareas, and at higher elevations in overlap zones. The tetraploid (n=36) subsp. circumvagum has larger pollen with a mixture of quadriporate pollen grains, pubescent stems andleaves, and larger leaves and flowers, and occurs in warmer parts of southern China and atlower elevations. We report 11 chromosome counts, six diploid and five tetraploid, includingthe first reported tetraploids in Asia. |
