Chromosome numbers of Panamanian Lecythidaceae and their use in subfamilial classification

Abstract:

Nine species of Lecythidaceae subfamily Lecythidoideae in four genera whose chromosome numbers were previously unknown, have 17 as their basic chromosome number:Eschweilera pittieri, three other unidentified species of Eschweilera, Grias cauliflora, Gustavia dubia, G. superba, Lecythis minor, and L. tuyrana. All are diploid except Gustavia superba, which is tetraploid. Couroupita guianensis, which was previously-and probably incorrectly-reported to have a gametic chromosome number of 18, also has n = 17. The known chromosome numbers support recognizing at least three of Niedenzu's subfamilies: Planchonioideae with x = 13, Napoleonaeoideae with x = 16, and Lecythidoideae with x = 17. His fourth subfamily, Foetidioideae, with one genus of five species, has not been counted. Cytological data have been and probably will be useful in indicating to what subfamily problematic genera belong and in showing interesting phytogeographic patterns within the family. On the other hand, cytological data provide no recognizable clues relating the Lecythidaceae to other families. © 1977 The New York Botanical Garden.

Año de publicación:

1977

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus