Karyotype Analysis of Japanese Burmannia (Burmanniaceae)

Abstract

Cytological studies on four myco-heterotrophic species of Burmannia (Burmanniaceae) in Japan were carried out. The finding of a chromosome number of 2n=176=88II (88 bivalents) in B. championii differed significantly from previous reports of 2n=12, 64-72. Chromosome numbers of 2n=120 for B. cryptopetala, 2n=60 for B. itoana and 2n=24 for B. nepalensis are reported here for the first time. Wide variation in chromosome number, chromosome length and karyotype at resting stage and metaphase was observed among the four Japanese species of Burmannia.