Numero cromosomico e caratteri morfologici di alcuni ecotipi di Phleum pratense L. (Gramineae) dell'Italia centrale

Abstract

Chromosome number and morphological traits of four ecotypes of Phleum pratense L. (Gramineae) of central Italy.—Chromosome number and morphological traits of four ecotypes of Phleum pratense L. collected in central Italy have been observed. The ecotypes « Ellera », « S. Lazzaro » and « Rapolano » have 2n = 28 chromosomes, « Bassano » and the Dutch cultivar « Topas » have 2n = 42 chromosomes.

The study of the morphological traits leads to the following conclusions: a) the presence and diameter of the tubers and the length of the ligules have no taxonomic interest, and this is also true for plant height among the Italian ecotypes; b) as far as the length of glumes, awns and hairs is concerned, the material with 2n = 28 chromosomes seems to have a higher affinity with the subsp. bertolonii than with the subsp. pratense.

If further research will reveal distinct differences between the form with 2n = 14 and the form with 2n = 28, the latter could be considered a new taxonomic entity.