The karyotypes of 10 species of the Liliaceae from the Qinling Range
are reported as follows.
I. Polygonatum Mill.
(1) P. odoratum ( Mill. ) Druce was found to have the karyotype
2n=20=12m+8sm ( Plate 3, Fig. I), which belongs to Stebbins’ (1971)
karyotype classification 2B. The chromosomes range from 3.88 to 11.26μm in
size.
Table 2 shows the karyotypes and number fundamentals (N.F.) of 13 materi-
als from 12 different localities. The N. F. of these materials can be classified into
two groups: N.F. =36 and N.F.=40, besides one (N.F. =38) from Beijing. N.
F. =36 covers all the materials with 2n= 18 which have relatively symmetrical
karyotypes ( all consisting of m and sm chromosomes), one with
2n=20 (10m+6sm+4st) and one with 2n=22 (14m+8st). N.F. =40 include
four materials with 2n= 20 (all of m and sm chromosomes ) and 3 with 2n= 22
(10m+ 8sm+ 4st). ￥
It is considered that there are two original karyotypes, 2n= 18 with
N. F. = 36 and 2n= 20 with N.F. =40, which are relatively symmetrical. All the
more asymmetrical karyotypes with some st chromosomes have probably evolved
from the symmetrical karyotypes without st chromosomes by centric fission.
(2) P. zanlanscianense Pamp. has the karyotype 2n=30=18m(2SAT)
+ 4sm+ 6st+ 2t (Plate 1, Fig. 1) which belongs to 2C. The chromosomes range
from 2.16 to 9.76μm. ￥
II. Asparagus filicinus Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don. The karyotype of this species
is 2n = 16= 8m(2SAT )+ 6sm + 2st (Plate 1, Fig. 1 and Table 3 ) , which belongs
to 2B. The chromosomes range from 2.33 to 5.30μm. Most species in Aspara-
gus, including A.Filicinus, are reported to have basic number x= 10, and therefore
2n= 16 is a new chromosome number for A.filicinus. EL-Saded et.al.(1972) gave
a report of n=8 for A. stipularis from Egypt, while Delay (1947) reported
2n = 24 for A. trichophyllus and A. verticillatus, Sinla(1972 ) gave a report of 2n=48
for A.racemosus. It is certain that there are two basic numbers in the genus Aspa-
ragus.
III. Cardiocrinum giganteum (Wall.) Makino was found to have the karyotype
2n=24=4m+8st+12t (Plate 1, Fig. 1 ), which belongs to 3B. The chromosomes
range from 8.71 to 20.24μm.
IV. Smilax discotis Warb. was shown to have the karyotype
2n=32=4m+22sm+4st (2SAT)+2t (Plate 1, Fig. 1 and Table 3), which be-
longs to 3C. The first pair is much longer than others. The chromosomes range
from 1.79 to 9.21μm. The chromosome number and karyotype of S. discotis are
both reported for the first time.
V. Reineckia carnea (Andr.) Kunth is of the karyotype 2n=38=28m+10sm
(Plate 2, Fig. 1 ), which belongs to 2B. The chromosomes range from 5.65 to
12.75μm.
VI. Tupistra chinensis Baker was found to have the karyotype
2n=38=25m+ 13sm (Plate 2, Fig. 1), which belongs to 2B. The chromosomes
range from 8.11 to 23.82μm. A pair of heterozygous chromosomes is arranged at
the end of the idiogram. The eighth pair possesses an intercalary satellite.
Huang et al. (1989) reported the karyotype of T. chinensis from Yunnan as
2n = 38 = 24m+ 14sm without any intercalary satellite. Nagamatsu and
Noda (1970) gave a report on the karyotype of T. nutans from Bhutan, which
consists of 18 pairs of median to submedian chromosomes and one pair of
subterminal chromosomes. And one pair of submedian chromosomes possess
intercalary satellites on their short arms.
VII. Rohdea japonica (Thunb) Roth. was found to have the karyotype
2n=38=30m+6sm+2st ( Plate 2, Fig. 1), which belongs to 2B. The
chromosomes range from 7.94 to 18.29μm.
Nagamatsu and Noda (1970) reported that the karyotype of R.japonica from
Japan was the same as that of Tupistra nutans from Bhutan. But we have not discov-
ered any chromosome with an intercalary satellite.
VIII. Hosta Tratt.
(1) H. plantaginea (Lam.) Aschers was shown to have 2n=60. The 60
chromosomes are in 30 pairs,which can be classified into 4 pairs of large
chromosomes (7.32- 8.72μm ), 3 pairs of medium-sized ones (4.72-5.60μm), and
23 pairs of small ones (1.40-3.64μm), (Plate 3 ,Table 4 ).
The karyotype of H. plantaginea is reported for the first time.
(2) H. ventricosa (Salisb.) Stearn was counted to have 2n=120, The 120
chromosomes are in 60 pairs, which can be classified into 8 pairs of large
chromosomes (7.00- 8.40μm ), 6 pairs of medium-sized ones(4.40- 6.15um ),
46 pairs of small ones (1.20- 3.85μm), (Plate 3, Table 4). Based on the
karyotypes of H. plantaginea and H. ventricosa, the latter is probably a tetraploid
in the genus Hosta.
Kaneko (1968b) gave a report on the karyotype of H. ventricosa, which is of
8 pairs of large chromosomes, 4 pairs of medium-sized and 48 pairs of small ones.
