A high polyploid Eleocharis uniglumis sl (Cyperaceae) from Central and Southeastern Europe

Chromosome counts and morphological measurements were carried out on Eleoch aris uniglumis s. 1. samples from nine populations in Slovakia, Hungary, Au stria and Croatia. A high polyploid Eleocharis uniglumis s.1. (2n=71-88) wa s found on halophilous sites: in western Slovakia (Svatojursky Sdr near Bra tislava; 2n=71-78), on the Hungarian and Austrian shores of Lake Neusiedler see (Hungary: Hidegseg; Austria: Tadten, St. Andra am Zicksee; 2n=71-82), a nd on the Croatian island of Krk, (shores of Lake Jezero and Lake Ponikve; 2n=80-88). These high polyploid populations have the same ploidy level as E . uniglumis subsp. sterneri, described as endemic to the islands of Oland a nd Gotland. Morphological similarities between the high polyploids and subs p. sterneri were found both in quantitative features correlated with ploidy level (stomatal length, anther length and fertile glume length) and in oth er characters (number of perianth bristles, broad sterile glume margins). D ifferences were detected in the receptacle density and in the length of per ianth bristles compared to the length of the achene. Intermediate somatic c hromosome numbers 2n=60-70, corresponding to Scandinavian hybrids between E . uniglumis subsp. uniglumis and E, uniglumis subsp. sterneri, were found n ear Neusiedlersee (Austria: Apetlon, Tadten; Hungary: Hidegseg, Hegyko). Th ese (karyologically intermediate) plants have intermediate stomatal lengths . In other features they are similar to the Central European high polyploid s. Eleocharis uniglumis subsp. uniglumis (2n=46) was found here as well (Hu ngary: Fertorakos).