Biological and cytogenetical investigations of the species Colchicum autumnale L.

Abstract

Colchicum autumnale L. derived from seed, develops in the first five years only vegetative organs (tuberobulbs, roots, leaves). In the sixth year the plants develop three leaves in spring and flowering takes place in autumn. The fructification of the plants derived from seed takes place in the seventh year only. Colchicum autumnale L. has 38 chromosomes, relatively small in size and of high morphological variability that allows for good individualization. There has been revelled a cytogenetic variability in nr. 1 pair of chromosomes. This may be a source of genetic variability within the population studied.