Somatic chromosome numbers of four Eleocharis taxa from Korean populations (Cyperaceae)

Eleocharis R. Br. (Cyperaceae) is characterized by unbranched culms, one terminal spikelet, bisexual flowers, and bristly perianths, occurring mainly in circumboreal marshes and wetlands. There are about 250 species worldwide, and 15 taxa in Korea have been recognized. Chromosomes in Cyperaceae are known to be holocentric, missing constricted centromeres during cell division. For the first time, we report the chromosome counts of Eleocharis from Korean populations of E. attenuata f. laeviseta (Nakai) H. Hara (2n = 20); E. parvula (Roem. & Schult.) Link ex Bluff, Nees & Schauer (2n = 10); E. ussuriensis Zinserl. (2n = 16); and E. valleculosa var. setosa Ohwi (2n = 16). The populations exhibit variations in their chromosome sizes from ca.1.7 μm to ca. 6 μm, categorized as gradient and bimodal karyotypes. The karyotypes observed are congruent with previous phylogenetic groups proposed. To clarify the traditional and phylogenetic classification of Korean Eleocharis, further taxonomic and chromosomal investigations with additional taxon sampling efforts are required.