Cyto-morphological Studies of the Genus Glycyrrhiza in Iran

Abstract

Morphological and cytogenetic analyses were performed in populations of Glycyrrhiza species growing in Iran. Clustering of the species based on morphological characters indicated distinctness of the Glycyrrhiza species studied. The present study revealed the presence of 2n=2x=16 chromosome number in the species studied, reporting the chromosome number of G. triphylla for the first time. Moreover, multipolar cells, abnormal tetrads and unreduced pollen grain formation are reported in Glycyrrhiza for the first time. Clustering of the Glycyrrhiza species and populations based on morphological and cytogenetic data showed close relationship between G. glabra and G. triphylla and between G. echinata and G. aspera supporting taxonomic treatment of the genus Glycyrrhiza in Flora Iranica.