Chromosome numbers in Byblidaceae

Abstract

Cytological studies carried out on the six species of Byblis (Byblidaceae) support the recent separation of taxa from within the Byblis liniflora Salisb. complex, as well as confirming the previously reported numbers of 2n = 18 for B. gigantea s.str. and 2n = 32 for B. liniflora s.str. Byblis sp. nov. aff. gigantea also has a chromosome number of 2n = 18, whereas B. filifolia Planch., B. rorida Lowrie & Conran and B. aquatica Lowrie & Conran have counts of 2n = 16. This gives base counts of x = 8 for the B. liniflora complex and x = 9 for the B. gigantea complex, with B. liniflora as a tetraploid.