A New Variety of Chrysosplenium pseudofauriei (Saxifragaceae) from Japan, and its Morphological and Cytological Characteristics

Abstract

Chrysosplenium pseudofauriei H. Lev. (series Sinica), which has been known only from the northeastern part of the Asiatic continent and Cheju-do (Quelpart Isl.), was newly found in Shikoku, Japan, isolated from the main distribution area. It was examined morphologically and cytologically, and compared with materials obtained from Korea and with herbarium specimens. The Japanese plants were recognized as a new variety of the species. This new variety, var. nipponense, is distinguished from var. pseudofauriei in having smaller rosette leaves at the tip of sterile branches after flowering, remarkably saccate calyces, the styles about half as long as the calyx lobes, smaller seeds, the constricted structure of papillae on the seed surfaces, and larger chromosomes at metaphase. The chromosome number of the species was counted as 2n=24 for the first time.