THE 10 CYTOLOGICAL RACES OF THE SCILLA-AUTUMNALIS SPECIES COMPLEX

Scilla autumnalis, a bulbaceous perennial member of the Liliaceae, is widespread throughout much of Europe and North Africa. So far it has b een classified as a single species, primarily on morphological grounds . This paper reports 10 cytologically distinct races of the plant pres ent over the range of distribution, and hypothesizes the existence, at least at some stage of the evolution of the complex, of two additiona l races. At least five distinct genomes are described, involving chrom osomal rearrangements, changes in DNA amount and three levels of ploid y. A picture of the evolutionary relationships of the cytotypes is sug gested.