Karyological differentiation and speciation in C. MediterraneanAnacamptis (Orchidaceae)

Abstract

Anacamptis pyramidalis is a variable and wide-spread European-Mediterranean taxon. Beside a dominant cytotype with 2n = 36 it includes cytotypes with 2n = 54 and 63 in northern Tuscany (and the Eastern Pyrenees) and one with 2n = 72 on Malta. In contrast,A. urvilleana, formerly often misidentified and included inA. pyramidalis, is a monomorphic and distinct species, endemic to the Maltese Islands. It has 2n = 36, can be clearly separated by morphological and anatomical features and is isolated from partly sympatric populations ofA. pyramidalis with 2n = 72 by differences in chromosome number, flowering time and habitat preference.