Cytotaxonomic studies of Draba nivalis and its close allies in Canada and Alaska

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Mulligan, Gerald A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1974
• Subjects: Draba fladnizensis; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b74-232; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b74-232

The cytotaxonomy of seven closely related species of Draba is discussed and a key is given. The species are as follows: D. fladnizensis Wulfen (n = 8); D. lactea Adams (n = 24); D. lonchocarpa Rydberg (n = 8); D. nivalis Liljebl (n = 8); D. palanderiana Kjellman (n = ?); D. porsildii G. A. Mulligan, sp. nov. (n = 16); and D. subcapitata Simmons (n = 8). Characteristics of sterile artificial and of natural hybrids, between some of these species and between them and other species of Draba, are discussed. Draba fladnizensis, D. lonchocarpa, and D. nivalis are diploids, each with two homologous sets of eight chromosomes that are partly homologous with sets of the other two species. Draba porsildii contains two sets of 16 chromosomes, each with two completely homologous genomes, and each genome from both sets of 16 is partly homologous with either of the genomes in the other set. All four genomes of D. porsildii are partly homologous with each genome of D. fladnizensis, D. lonchocarpa, and D. nivalis.