Karyotype Analysis in Some Salvia species (Lamiaceae) of Iran

Abstract

Karyotype analysis was performed in 10 Salvia species (Lamiaceae) of Iran, S. spinosa, S. reuterana, S. sclarea, S. ceratophylla, S. xanthocheiala, S. limbata, S. hypoleuca, S. staminea, S. nemorosa and S. verticillata showing 2n＝14, 20, 22 and 32 chromosome numbers indicating the role played by polyploidy and aneuploidy in Salvia species diversification. Some of the species differed significantly in the size of chromosomes but occupied 1A and 1B classes of Stebbins system indicating them to have primitive karyotype.