The results of karyological analyses on 32 Mediterranean taxa of the family Boraginaceae are illustrated and discussed. We investigated members of the tribe Boragineae (Cynoglottis,

15 (Elizaldia, Nonea). Such broad series is likely to reflect a complex history of chromosomal evolution. In this tribe, new reports are given for Elizaldia heterostemon and E. calycina ssp. embergeri, both endemic to Morocco, which showed 2n = 30 and 2n = 20, respectively. Chromosomes of these taxa and Nonea vesicaria (also 2n = 30) showed heterochromatic seg-ments and secondary constrictions, indicating a probable phylogenetic relationship. Tribe Cynoglosseae showed the lowest variation, with only x = 12 as haploid number in Cynoglossum, Omphalodes, Paracaryum, Pardoglossum and Solenanthus. Radiation and evo-lution of new forms in this group seem to have involved minor karyological rearrangements with respect to Boragineae and Lithospermeae, also in terms of changes of chromosome mor-phology and ploidy levels