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New chromosome counts inStreptocarpus (Gesneriaceae) from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands and their taxonomic significance

Plant Systematics and Evolution volume 224, pages 173–182 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

This study records the chromosome numbers of 10 species ofStreptocarpus; nine of the counts are new. With the exception ofS. buchananii of mainland Africa, all the results are for plants endemic to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. While there is a strong correlation between basic number and growth form in the two subgenera of the genus on the African mainland (x = 15 among caulescent species in subgenusStreptocarpella; x = 16 among acaulescent species in subgenusStreptocarpus), the situation appears more complex among Madagascan and Comoro Island species. One notable example of deviation from this correlation is shown byS. papangae, a shrubby caulescent species, with 2n = 32 (x = 16). Polyploidy in the genus appears to be absent on mainland Africa, but is present in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, ranging from tetraploidy to octoploidy. Evolutionary implications of the cytological observations are considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, EH3 5LR, Edinburgh, UK

    K. Jong & M. Möller

  2. Department of Soil Science, University of Aberdeen, AB9 2UD, Aberdeen, UK

    K. Jong

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  1. K. Jong
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  2. M. Möller
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Jong, K., Möller, M. New chromosome counts inStreptocarpus (Gesneriaceae) from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands and their taxonomic significance. Pl Syst Evol 224, 173–182 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986341

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986341

Key words

  • Gesneriaceae
  • Streptocarpus
  • Chromosome numbers
  • growth patterns
  • taxonomy
  • Africa
  • Comoro Islands
  • Madagascar