Polyploidy in Acer rubrum L.

Abstract

Acer rubrum L. is a highly polymorphic species occupying a range which includes almost all of the United States east of the prairies, southeastern Canada, and a portion of Newfoundland. The range of habitats occupied is equally impressive. Cytological study of this species was first undertaken by Mottier in 1893, but the first indication of intraspecific polyploidy was furnished by Taylor (Contrib. Bot. Lab. Univ. Penna. 5: 111, 1920), who reported finding in this species three different gametic chromosome numbers which approximated 36, 54, and 72, but was unable to relocate the trees from which his material was collected. All the other species of Acer studied by Taylor had chromosome numbers which were multiples of 13. Subsequent investigations by Foster (Jour. Arnold Arboretum 14: 386, 1933), and others have confirmed 13 as the basic number for the genus. Foster's only count for Acer rubrum was n=52, the largest number (octoploid) which he found for the genus.

Citation

Duffield, John W. 1943. Polyploidy in Acer rubrum L. Chronica Botanica, Vol. VII, No. 8: p. 390-391