Cytological studies of Australian mosses

Abstract

The cytological features of 84 species from 56 genera and 33 families from almost 200 collections of Australian mosses are described. A wide range of chromosome numbers is recorded: n = 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 30, 48, and 52 ± 2. Variation in numbers occurred in both genera and species, and intraspecific polyploidy for 10 species and intraspecific aneuploidy for four species are reported.

The investigations have shown that the same mechanisms of speciation, range of chromosome numbers, degrees of polyploidy and intraspecific variations occur here as in other parts of the world.

The studies have contributed information on 62 species, 18 genera and five families not previously recorded and form the first survey of the cytology of Australian mosses.