Nuclear DNA content variation inHalimiumandXolantha(Cistaceae)

Abstract Chromosome numbers and nuclear DNA contents were determined in several taxa of two genera of Cistaceae, Halimium and Xolantha. The diploid chromosome number 2n = 18 is stable within the genus Halimium. In Xolantha, the diploid chromosome number 2n = 14 was confirmed in X. tuberaria, and hexaploid (2n = 36) and octoploid (2n = 48) cytotypes were found in X. guttata. DNA amounts, first reported here for these genera, were determined by flow cytometry of propidium iodide-stained nuclei. Within Halimium there is a more than twofold difference in genome size between H. calycinum (7.61 pg DNA) and H. atriplicifolium (3.66 pg DNA). Within the genus Xolantha, absolute genome sizes of 7.3 a…