A Lycoris sp. grown in China shows very similar morphology to L. radiata (2n=33). However, they are clearly distinguished by difference in the fertility, i.e. the Chinese Lycoris gives the normal production of seeds but L. radiata is completely sterile.
On the other hand, the karyological feature of the Chinese Lycoris, e.g. number and morphology of chromosomes, is similar to that of L. sanguinea(2n=22). That is, it has 22 diploid chromosomes, showing nearly terminal attachment of spindle-fibres. At first metaphase in PMC, bivalents usually show the characteristic shape as illustrated in Fig. 6.
The sterility of L. radiata is clearly due to the autotriploidy which is probably induced by triplication of the genom of the Chinese Lycoris or allied species.
