CYTOTAXONOMIC STUDIES ON THE GENUS POLYGONATUM Ⅲ. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes of 6 species from China

Six species of Polygonatum from China were cytotaxonomically studied in this work. The chromosome numbers and karyotypes of Chinese materials of these species are mostly reported for the first time. The results are shown as follows: P. prattii 2n=28=6m+8sm+14st; P. inflatum 2n=22=6m+6sm+10st; P. stenophyllum 2n=30=12m+12sm+6st; P. megaphyllum 2n=22=4m+12sm+6st. Two cytotypes of P. verticillatum have been found, that is 2n=54 and 2n=58. P. punctatum 2n=90. From the present results and previous reports by other authors, it is clear that there is notonly numerical alteration of chromosomes in different populations of the species of Polygonatum but there is structural alteration in chromosomes as well. These species, in view of the diversity of chromosome numbers in their different taxa (euploid and aneuploid)as well as in the morphology of karyotype, seem to be in an active state of karyological evolution, The chromosomal dynamism involving their numbers as well as structural changes seem to have been the source of polyrnorphic adapted to different geographic areas and habitats.