Cytological Investigations into W. Himalayan Orchidaceae

I. Chromosome numbers and karyotypes of taxa from Kashmir

Abstract

Cytological investigations were carried out in 17 orchid taxa from Kashmir. Listera kashmeriana, and Habenaria digitata were cytologically unrecorded earlier. Aneusomaty was observed in Neottia listeroides. Goodyera repens exists as 2 morphologically indistinct aneuploid cytotypes whereas for Spiranthes sinensis, Herminium angustifolium, Habenaria edgeworthii, Orchis latifolia and Satyrium nepalense, it is presumed that these probably occur only at higher ploidy levels in Kashmir Hills. Following karyotypes were established:
Cypripedium cordigerum: K (2n)=20=4E^m8F^m4F^a4G^m
Cephalanthera ensifolia: K(2n)=34=14A^m8B^m6B^a2D^a2E^a2F^a
Epipactis gigantea: K(2n)=40=2A^a20B^m2C^a2C^m6D^m4E^a2E^m2F^a
Neottia listeroides: K(2n)=40=4B^m20C^m2C^a6D^m4D^a2E^mE^a
Listera kashmeriana: K(2n)=42=6B^m2B^a12C^m2C^a16D^m2D^a
Goodyera repens: K(2n)=30=14A^m16B^m
Setyrium nepalense: K(n)=82=14A^m68B^m