Chromosome Studies in Liatris. I. Spicatae and Pycnostachyae

Chromosome Studies in Liatris. III. Punctatae

“…The karyotypes of diploid species of the Punctatae show less differentiation than those of the Sp~catae and Pycnostachyae (Gaiser, 1949), and about as little as those of the Graminifoliae. In a discussion of the latter (Gaiser, 1950) it was pointed out that though different chromosome lengths could be seen, individual chromosomes were not always certainly recognizable and could not be lettered as in the former. Similarly in the Punctaiae, there is little asymmetry in the lengths 'of the units of a set and the position of the centromere is usually median.…”

“…with a localized segregate, L. densispicata Bush, in the sand dune areas of Minnesota. In additon, three other species from central Texas have been recognized (Gaiser, 1946); L. ang'Ustifolia Bush., L. mucronata DC., and L. bracteata Gaiser. The last three species have in common a rounded corm, which distinguishes them from the first two, which have elongated rootstocks.…”

“…For meiotic chromosomes fixed material was frequently compared but only drawings from aceto-carmine preparations are here shown in fig. 16 (Gaiser 1949(Gaiser , 1950. Roottips from seeds collected from the grown seedlings were germinated during 1934 and gave confirmation of the meiotic counts.…”

“…Thus the plant had the tetraploid genome in common with the more northern forms. As the herbarium specimens had seemed atypical and the plant had been classified as an intermediate between varieties nebraskana and typica (Gaiser, 1946), this singular plant would merit further study. Also, after having seen in herbaria the most southerly growing punctata, from northern Mexico and the Trans Pecos area of Texas, hope was entertained of making cytological examinations of some of it.…”

“…arenicola is now considered to be a synonym of L. densispicata (Gaiser, 1946). Comparisons of seedling populations of both of these were emphasized in the study of comparative morphological eharac- (table 2).…”