Cytotaxonomic study of Korean Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Somatic chromosomes about 13 taxa of Korean Euphorbia L. was investigated to estimate its taxonomic significance. Somatic chromosome numbers of treated taxa were 2n= 12, 20, 22, 28, 40, 42, 56, therefore basic chromosome numbers of those were x=6, 7, 10, 11. The chromosome numbers of E. pallasii Turcz. (2n=20), E. hylonoma Hand.-Mazz (2n=20.), E. fauriei H. Lv. & Vaniot ex H. Lv (2n=28) and E. jolkini Boiss. (2n=28) were determined for the first time in this study. The chromosome numbers of four taxa were same as previous ones; E. sieboldiana Moor. & Decne. (2n=20), E. ebracteolata Hayata (2n=20), E. humifusa Willd. ex Schlecht. (2n=22). But those of six taxa were different; E. esula L (2n= 16, 20, 60, 64 vs 2n=20), E. helioscopia L. (2n=12, 42 vs 2n=42), E. lucorum Rupr. (2n=28, 40 vs 2n=56), E. pekinensis Rupr. in Maxim. (2n=24 vs 2n=28, 56), E. maculata L. (2n=28, 42 vs 2n=12), E. supina Raf. (n=7 vs 2n=40). E. ebracteolata, E. pallasii and E. hylonoma were distingushcd from the other taxa by the chromosome numbers, size and satellites, E. maculata, E. humifusa, E. supina had the different basic and somatic chromosome numbers in spite of the similar morphological. anatomical and palynological chracters. The chromosomal character of Korean Euphorbia was supported the Ma and Hu's systems, and as above results, it was found to be a good character in delimiting above sections and estimating relationships for some species.