Polyploidy and karyotype variation in Turkish Bellevalia (Hyacinthaceae)

Abstract

There are 20 Bellevalia species in Turkey, half of which are endemic. Chromosome numbers are known for 15 species. A chromosome survey of 145 Bellevalia individuals showed that the karyotype is remarkably stable. All are based on x = 4. The majority are diploid with 2n = 8, but there is also a polyploid series of 2n = 16, 24 and 32. Aneuploidy occurs only at the octoploid level. Eleven individuals had metacentric B chromosomes, one had acrocentric Bs and one had telocentric Bs. Bellevalia pycnantha and B. paradoxa are morphologically similar, with B. pycnantha reduced to a synonom of B, paradoxa. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London.