Chromosome numbers in the Sicilian species of "Limonium" Miller ("Plumbaginaceae")

The authors present the results of a study on the chromosome numbers of most of the Limonium species which occur in Sicily and neighbouring islets. The chromosome counts were made in the somatic mitosis of the germinated seeds. Among the taxa caryologically investigated there are diploid species with 2n = 16 (L. sinuatum, L. ferulaceum) and with 2n = 18 (L. calcarae, L. bocconei, L. syracusanum, L. tenuiculum, L. lopadusanum, L. panormitanum), triploid species with 2n = 26 (L. minutiflorum, L. exaristatum) and with 2n = 27 (L. cosyrense, L. flagellare, L. pignattii, L. fumarii, L. oleifolium, L. halophilum, L. lilybaeum, L. selinuntinum, L. aegusae, L. catanzaroi, L. densiflorum, L. sibthorpianum), tetrapolid species with In = 32 (L. lojaconi, L. intermedium), with 2n = 35 (L. ionicum) and with 2n = 36 (L. serotinum, L. ponzoi, L. tauromenitanum, L. hyblaeum, L. mazarat, L. secundiramemum, L. pachynense). For each species the taxonomic, phytogeographical and ecological aspects are also taken into consideration