Abstract
A cytotaxonomic survey has been carried out on 87 species and 11 subspecies of Eriospermum (Eriospermaceae). The results show that the basic haploid number varies from x=5 to x=10 and that, according to karyotype, the species can be subdivided into eight distinct Groups. The larger number of species belong to Group A with 62 taxa. Group E karyotype, found in nine species, is bimodal and includes three large and either six or seven small chromosomes. Some of the karyotype Groups include species which belong to different taxonomic aggregations. Overall, the direct comparison, between the taxonomic conclusions and those indipendently reached through chromosome analysis, has shown a good although not complete concordance.
The very distinct karyotypes of the eight Groups of species of Eriospermum suggest specialized genes assemblages in response to environmental conditions. Further, the existence of certain remarkable characters such as the enations present in several species and the peculiar position of the growing point, mostly underneath the tuber, can be considered as special adaptive features to the generally arid conditions in which most of the species live.
Related Research Data
References
- Archibald , E.E.A. 1960 . Some species of Eriospermum in the Eastern Cape Province . J. S. Afr. Bot , 26 : 93 – 137 .
- Baker , J.G. 1876 . Revision of genera and species of Antheri-dae and Eriospermae . Bot. J. Linn. Soc , 15 : 253 – 263 .
- Baker , J.G. 1896 . “ Haemodoraceae to Liliaceae ” . In Flora Capensis 6 (part II): 369–378, (part III) , Edited by: Thiselton- Dyer , W.T. 534 – 535 . Reeve & Co. Ashford, Kent, U.K. Publ . –97
- Baker , J.G. 1898 . “ Eriospermum ” . In “Flora of Tropical Africa”, 7 , Edited by: Thiselton-Dyern , W.T. 470 – 475 . London : Reeve and Co .
- Brandham , P.E. 1983 . Evolution in a stable chromosome system . Kew Chromosome Conf , 22 : 251 – 260 .
- Breyne , J. 1678 . Centuria Plantarum. 41 Danzig
- Commelin , C. 1701 . Horti medici Amstelodanensis rariorum plantam descriptio et icones (pars altera). 2: 175, t. 88 , Amsterdam : Blaeu .
- Dahlgren , R. 1980 . A revised system of classification in the Angiospermae . Bot. J. Linn. Soc , 80 : 91 – 124 .
- Duthie , A.V. 1960 . Contribution to our knowledge of the genus Eriospermum . Ann. Univ. Stell , 2 : 1 – 22 .
- Endlicher , S.L. 1836 . “ Eriospermum ” . In Genera Plantarum 156 – 157 . Wien
- Howell , W.M. and Black , D.A. 1980 . Controlled silverstaining of nucleolus organizer regions with a protective colloidal developer: a one-step method . Experientia , 80 : 1014 – 1015 .
- Huber , H. 1969 . Die Samenmerkmale und Verwandtshaftverhaltnisse der Liliiflorae . Mitt. d. Bot. Staatsammlung Muenchen , 8 : 219 – 538 .
- Ker-Gawler , J.B. 1821 . Eriospermum pubescens: a furleaved Eriospermum . Bot. Reg , 7 : 578
- Linnaeus , C. 1753 . Species Plantarum. 1: 308 , Holmiae : Stockholm .
- Master , M.T. 1869 . Vegetable teratology: an account of the principal deviations from the normal construction of plants. VIII: 43 London
- Mogford , DJ. and Perry , P.L. 1981 . Chromosome studies in the Southern African flora 7–9 (Eriospermum) . J. S. Afr. Bot , 47 : 293 – 296 .
- Mogford , D.J. , Hartley , D.H. and Perry , P.L. 1981 . Chromosome studies in the Southern African Flora Flora: 22–24 (Eriospermum) . J S. Afr. Bot , 47 : 751 – 754 .
- Perry , P.L. 1984 . Ten new species of Eriospermum from the Western Cape . J. S. Afr. Bot , 50 : 503 – 534 .
- Perry , P.L. 1989 . Ten more new species of Eriospermum from the Western Cape . J. S. Afr. Bot , 55 : 83 – 102 .
- Perry , P.L. 1994 . A revision of the genus Eriospermum (Eriospermaceae) . Contr. Bolus Herb. (Cape Town) , 1 : 1 – 320 .
- Vosa , C.G. 1983 . Chromosome evolution in Ornithogalum . Kew Chromosome Conf , 2 : 370
- Vosa , C.G. 1998 . Heterochromatin and ecological adaptation in Southern African Ornithogalum . Caryologia , 50 : 97 – 103 .