Cytotaxonomic investigations on species of genus Narcissus (Amaryllidaceae) from Algeria

Abstract This paper provides new cytotaxonomic data on the genus Narcissus Linnaeus, 1753, in Algeria. Populations of seven taxa, N.tazetta Linnaeus, 1753, N.pachybolbus Durieu, 1847, N.papyraceus Ker Gawler, 1806, N.elegans (Haworth) Spach, 1846, N.serotinus sensu lato Linnaeus, 1753, including N.obsoletus (Haworth) Steudel, 1841, and N.cantabricus De Candolle, 1815, were karyologically investigated through chromosome counting and karyotype parameters. N.tazetta and N.elegans have the same number of chromosomes 2n = 2x = 20 with different karyotype formulas. Karyological and morphological characteristics, confirm the specific status of N.pachybolbus and N.papyraceus, both are diploids with 2n = 22 but differing in asymmetry indices. The morphotypes corresponding to N.serotinus sensu lato show two ploidy levels 2n = 4x = 20 and 2n = 6x = 30 characterized by a yellow corona. Some hexaploid cytotypes have more asymmetric karyotype with predominance of subtelocentric chromosomes. They are distinguished by orange corona and may correspond to N.obsoletus. Other cytotype 2n = 28 of N.serotinus was observed in the North Western biogeographic sectors. N.cantabricus was found to be diploid with 2n = 2x = 14, which is a new diploid report in the southernmost geographic range of this polyploid complex.