Cytological Studies of 4 Species of the Genus Kobresia (Cyperaceae) Collected from Nepal Himalaya

Abstract

Chromosome numbers of 4 species of the genus Kobresia (Cyperaceae) collected from the Nepal Himalaya are reported. Chromosome numbers of K. curvata Kük. (2n=50), K. esenbeckii (Kunth) Noltie (2n=66), and K. duthiei C. B. Clarke (2n=ca. 84) are reported for the first time. Kobresia nepalensis (Nees) Kük. showed an unusually high chromosome number, 2n=ca. 114. It is concluded that chromosomal evolution in the unispicate Kobresia species may have been caused by both polyploidy and aneuploidy.