KARYOTYPES AND EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONS OF HIBISCUS ASPER HOOK., H-CANNABINUS L. AND H-SURATTENSIS L. (MALVACEAE)

Studies were made of the morphology and karyotype of accessions of H. asper H. cannabinus and H. surattenis. There were six simple epicalyx segments in H. asper, nine in H. cannabinus and ten branched and leafy epicalyx segments in H. surattensis. Karyotypic analysis of the speci es showed a preponderance of median centromeres. H. surattensis had a more symmetrical karyotype and smaller chromosomes than H. asper and H . cannabinus. H. asper had the longest chromosomes. Ten of their chrom osomes were significantly different in length, while four were signifi cantly different in arm ratio.