New chromosome numbers for rutaceae

Abstract

Chromosome counts for 30 taxa, representing five genera, are reported for Rutaceae subfamily Rutoideae, mostly in the Australasian tribe Boronieae. We found n = 10 for Boronia algida which is previously unreported in the genus, and a sterile triploid taxon in Zieria. Generic chromosome numbers of n = 18 in Zieria, n = 16 in Phebalium and n = 14 in Eriostemon sens. lat. occur, while Boronia shows cytoevolution on n = 18, 11, 10, 9. Pollen sterility and possible apomixis is indicated in some species. Some taxonomic implications of cytological data in the tribe Boronieae are discussed.