Chromosome cytology, leaf epidermal morphology and palynology ofCurcuma rubrobracteata(Zingiberaceae)

Abstract

Chromosome cytology, leaf epidermal morphology and palynology of Curcuma rubrobracteata (Zingiberaceae), a species recently recorded from southern Yunnan, China, have been investigated. The somatic chromosome number is determined as 2n=9x=63, contrary to a previous count of 2n=6x=42 based on material from northeastern India. The upper epidermis is unicellular, non-glandular, hairy along raised veins, with the epidermal cells being rectangular or polygonal in shape. The lower epidermis is glabrous, with the epidermal cells being circular or polygonal in shape, and smaller than the upper epidermal cells. The pollen grains are spherical or subspherical, non-aperturate, with a nearly smooth exine, nanoverrucate and with an annular ridge.