A Cytological Conspectus of the Genus Calycadenia (Asteraceae): An Example of Contrasting Modes of Evolution

The chromosome numbers of 12 taxa of Calycadenia are documented by determinations in 77 widespread populations of the genus. Results of biosystematic studies indicate that hybrids among C. multiglandulosa, C. ciliosa, C. pauciflora, C. hispida, C. spicata , and C. oppositifolia characteristically have multiple associations of chromosomes producing complex meiotic configurations, whereas hybrids among C. villosa, C. mollis, C. truncata , and C. tenella generally yield few or no bivalents and a predominance of univalents during meiosis. Hybrids between C. multiglandulosa and C. hispida exhibit strict bivalent pairing and high pollen stainability. It is demonstrated that C. pauciflora and C. ciliosa comprise several sibling taxa that are morphologically cryptic, yet highly differentiated cytologically. Conversely, it is concluded that C. multiglandulosa and C. hispida comprise at least five morphologically distinct taxa that so far as known are highly interfertile (as judged by pollen stainability of hybrids) and cytologically uniform. Reproductive biology, chromosome mutation rates, habitats, flowering time, and genetic recombination mechanisms of the C. pauciflora‐C. ciliosa and C. multiglandulosa‐C. hispida complexes are compared in an attempt to account for the different modes of evolution observed in these closely related groups of Calycadenia. Lacking other plausible explanations, it is suggested that differential methods for limiting recombination of critical adaptive gene complexes might account for the divergent evolutionary patterns encountered in Calycadenia.