Chromosome Studies on Papaveraceae with Special Reference to the Phylogeny

Abstract

1) Many meiotic chromosome numbers in the Papaveraceae have been counted.
2) Pteridophyllum is probably descended from a very remote ancestor of Chelidonioideae and should be put in the new family Pteriodophyllaceae.
3) In the Papaveraceae there are two series, one of which, the Corydalo-Hypecoideae, having the basic chromosome number 4 and the other, Chelidonioideae the basic number 3. These two series are independent, but finally unite in Papaveroideae (e.g. Roemeria).
There are two kinds of Roemeria: one with the basic number 3 and the other with 3 and 4, thus showing that Roemeria is karyologically a heterogenous genus.
4) Glaucium which has been classified by Fedde with Papavereae, should be grouped with Chelidoneae (the writer's Chelidonioideae) as it is quite different karyologically from other genera in Papavereae.
5) We conclude from the present studies that the following genera have been produced by crossing between plants of Corydaloideae and Chelidonioideae, but their crossing occurred early in the history of development of the family, and we are at present not in a position to trace the exact chromosomal history.
*Hunnemannia 7=(4+3)………Corydaloideae (Corydalis, Dicentra or allied species)×Eschscholtzia
Bocconia Macleaya 10=(4+3+3)……Corydaloideae (Corydalis, Dicentra or allied spedies)×Chelidonium
Fumaria (Fumarioideae) 7=(4+3)………Corydalis or allied species×Glaucium
Papaveroideae 7=(4+3) 11=(4+4+3)……Corydaloideae×Chelidonioideae
6) Papaver can be said to be the most highly developed genus among the Papaveraceae, both for anatomical and karyological reasons.
7) Fedde is of the opinion that Fumarioideae (Fumarioideae and Corydaloideae of the present scheme) is the youngest in this family, but as stated before, Fumaria, having a different number of chromosomes from other genera in Fumarioideae (the writer's Corydaloideae), seems to be derived from a genetic connection of Corydalis and Glaucium, as Fumaria and Glaucium have fumaric acid in common.
The writer, therefore, believes that Fumaria is situated between Roemeria and Corydalis, having branched out from the latter. Other genera of Fumarioideae (the writer's Corydaloideae) also should be placed before the Papavereae (the writer's Papaveroideae) because of their having the basic number 4.
8) Argemone, although it has fewer species as compared with Papaver, is the most advanced genus in America, while Papaver has become the most advanced genus in Europe and Asia Minor, having about 90 species.
In conclusion I desire to express my best thanks to Hon. Prof. Fujii and Prof. Nakai, the director of the Botanical Institute of the Tokyo Imp. University for much valuable advice and the great interest they have shown in my work, and also to express my sincere appreciation of the help and encouragement I have received from Prof. Sinotô and Dr. Yasui during the course of the present work.