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THE CYTOTAXONOMY OF FILIPENDULA (ROSACEAE) AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Author(s) -
Baker Herbert G.,
Baker Irene
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1967.tb10729.x
Subject(s) - biology , cytotaxonomy , apomixis , genus , subfamily , rosaceae , botany , chromosome number , zoology , evolutionary biology , chromosome , karyotype , genetics , ploidy , gene
The genus Filipendula Mill. is generally separated from Spiraea L. in systematic keys on the basis of a single fruit character. In some taxonomic treatments of the Rosaceae, where subfamilies are used, this places the genera in separate subfamilies. Karyological studies can be useful in assaying the justifiability of such treatment and are needed because of serious discrepancies between previous reports of chromosome numbers and the recent textbook designation, on dubious grounds, of F. vulgaris as an example of a “permanent chromosome hybrid.” The results given in this paper show that x = 7 in this genus (compared with x = 9 in Spiraea ) and the reasons for rejecting previous counts of 2 n = 15 for F. vulgaris are presented. “Permanent chromosome hybridity” for this species is also rejected. The possibility that a cytotype with 2 n = 16 may exist in the northern part of the range of F. ulmaria cannot be completely discounted, but positive evidence is presented for 2 n = 14 in this species (even though 2 n = 16 has been reported most frequently recently). The basic number 7 for Filipendula is in agreement with the placing of this genus in the subfamily Rosoideae even though the hereditary peculiarities (apomixis and permanent chromosome hybridity) shown by some other members of this subfamily are apparently not now needed to explain the cytological situation in Filipendula.