Meiosis in two species of
Magnolia from South Indian, namely
M. obovata and
M. liliflora, has been studied. Meiosis in the former was abnormal due to formation of multivalents (penta-, quadri-and trivalent) along with bivalents and univalents together making up a count of 2n=95, while meiosis in the latter was normal with regular formation of 95 bivalents (2n=190). The findings show that the present materials of the two species are new polyploid cytotypes,
M obovata 5x and
M liliflora 10x on x=19. The n=95 reported here in
M liliflora is the highest chromosome number known in the Magnoliaceae. On the speculation that the x=19 in the Magnoliaceae could be a derived one of tertiary origin, representing a 'paleo 6x' state, the present cytotypes of
M obovata and
M. liliflora may be reckoned as representing very high 'paleopolyploids'-15x and 30x respectively.
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