TETRAPLOIDS IN LUZULA-MULTIFLORA (JUNCACEAE) IN IRELAND - KARYOLOGY AND MEIOTIC BEHAVIOR

Populations of Luzula multiflora s.l. in Ireland were examined karyolo gically. Plants from 14 populations were invariably tetraploid with 2n =24. Chromosomes of the tetraploid are of AL type (true tetraploidy). Meiosis of the tetraploids is of the same type as described for other Luzula taxa in the literature. In meiosis, 12 bivalents are regularly formed. A hypothesis based on the morphological and allozyme data, tha t the tetraploids are of alloploid origin, is supported by the present results. Meiosis in an artificial hybrid between the presumed parenta l taxa, L. campestris and L. pallidula, was studied; a certain tendenc y towards chromosome doubling was observed. The geographical distribut ion of the L. multiflora cytotypes is also discussed.