A Cytological Study on three Species of Colocasia (Araceae) from Yunnan

Chromosome numbers and karyotypes of three Colocasia species from Yunnan were reported. Their karyotypes were as follows: 2n=2x=28=22m(1sat)+6sm for C. gongii; 2n=2x=28=20m+8sm for C. gaoligongensis; 2.=2x=28=20m+8sm for C. gigantea. Common karyomorphological characteristics of three species examined were: (1) the simple chromocenter type of the resting chromosomes and the proximal type of the mitotic prophase chromosomes; (2) the chromosome number 2n=28 and (3) the chromosome complement of m- and sm-chromosomes. x=14 was confirmed as the basic chromosome number of Colocasia. There were differences among species in the number of m- and sm-chromosomes as well as satellite.