Cytotaxonomic notes on some Galium species

It is well known that the chromosome number of a plant may be a character of importance to taxonomy; it can often give a better insight with respect to the place of a taxon in the System. It is, therefore, particularly important to determine for any species the chromosome number of as many individuals from as many localities as possible. Publications of lists of documented chromosome numbers as presented by Love in the IOPB reports in Taxon are very valuable and so are lists of chromosome numbers of plants from more restricted areas (Greenland: Jörgensen et al., 1958; Iceland: Löve and Löve, 1956; the Netherlands: Gadella and Kliphuis, 1963; Poland: Skalinska, 1950, Skalinska et al., 1957, 1959, 1961; Sweden, Skâne: Lóvkvist, 1962). These lists enable us to ascertain whether or not there are differences in chromosome numbers within a species and whether or not there is a relation with the geographical distribution or the ecological preference. Apart from the number, however, the size and shape of the chromosomes and, consequently, their ‘portrait’ may be of value. In the Angiospermae this character plays an important role almost exclusively in the Monocotyledones.