Chromosome Numbers in some Species of <I>Cassia</I> Linn

Abstract

Ten species of the genus Cassia have been cytologically examined. Of these, C. fistula (n = 14) and C. siamea (n = 14) are timber yielding species. C. planisiliqua (n = 14) and C. mimosoides var. dimidiata (n = 8) are cytologically not known before. New chromosome number is made available for C. renigera (n = 14). Meiosis is normal in all the taxa under review. Aneuploidy apd polyplolidy have been effective in speciation within this genus. Nine out of ten species in the present work are tetraploids. Intraspecific aneuploidy is evident in six species.