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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Cytotaxonomy of the Tribe Polygonatae
Contributor:
Therman, Eeva
imprint:
American Botanical Society, 1956
Published in:American Journal of Botany
Language:
English
ISSN:
0002-9122;
1537-2197
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<p>The cytology of 23 strains representing the genera Convallaria, Reineckia, Smilacina, Maianthemum, Streptopus and Disporum has been investigated. The material, with the chromosome numbers and range of chromosome size, the number of SAT-chromosomes and nucleoli, is listed in table 1. In regard to chromosome size two trends can be distinguished in the tribe Polygonatae. The genera Polygonatum, Convallaria, Reineckia, Smilacina, Maianthemum and the East Asiatic species of Disporum have large chromosomes (4-14 μ), whereas the genus Streptopus and the North American species of Disporum have small chromosomes (2-5 μ). The large-chromosome species have interphase nuclei of the reticulate type, and a fairly high number of chiasmata, which do not terminalize. The small-chromosome species have resting nuclei of the euchromocentric type, and one or two chiasmata, which terminalize. The close kinship of Smilacina and Maianthemum, recognized in all the taxonomic systems, is also reflected by the similarity of the chromosome number, karyotype and mode of meiosis. It is therefore suggested to future taxonomists dealing with these genera that at least the cytologically similar species be united into one genus.</p>