The chromosomes of Chortolirion and Poellnitzia (Asphodelaceae: Alooideae)

Abstract

The somatic chromosomes of Chortolirion angolense (Baker) A. Berger and Poellnitzia rubriflora (L. Bol.) Uitewaal have been studied. Both taxa are monotypic genera in the subfamily Alooideae of the Asphodelaceae. Prior to this study Chor­tolirion had not been cytologically examined, while karyograms and idiograms have never been presented for Poellnitzia. Chortolirion and Poellnitzia are diploid with 2n = 14 chromosomes and with a bimodal karyotype typical of the entire subfamily, comprising four pairs of long chromosomes and three pairs of short chromosomes. For Poellnitzia minute structural differences in karyotype morphology were noted between observed and published data, especially with regard to the presence of satellites.