Chromosome counts in Gaultheria and related genera

Abstract

The chromosome numbers of 32 taxa in the ‘Gaultheria group’ of genera of the tribe Andromedeae in the Ericaceae have been counted; 15 of these have been counted for the first time. All taxa counted in Gaultheria and Leucothoë have a chromosome number based on x = 11. The chromosome numbers counted in Diplycosia are 2n = 36 and in Zenobia 2n = c.66. G. insana and G. procumbens show different polyploid races: G. insana tetraploids and hexaploids and G. procumbens diploids, tetraploids and octoploids.