Cytological and karyological studies on Orchidaceae

Abstract

Cytological studies are reported for some taxa belonging to three genera of Orchidaceae. Triploidy has been found in Orchis laxiflora, Anacamptis pyramidalis and in a new interspecific hybrid between Orchis collina and O. moria. Meiosis in O. laxiflora was characterized by an high frequency of trivalents, while a few bivalents and univalents were observed. Anacamptis pyramidalis has presented numerous trivalents, few univalents/bivalents and rare quadrivalents. Karyotypes of diploid and triploid interspecific hybrids were compared with karyotypes of their parents. Aneuploidy was noticed in Himantoglossum adriaticum with chromosome numbers n = 18, 2n = 36 and 2n = 37. The possible significance on the occurrence of triploids is discussed. © 1993 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.