Chromosome numbers of some North American species of Artemisia (Asteraceae)

Chromosome number determinations are reported for 58 accessions, comprising 13 native and introduced taxa of Artemisia found in Canada and the United States. Chromosome numbers observed were n = 8, 9, 18, and 27. A chromosome number of 2n = 18 is the first report for A. pacifica Nutt. A new tetraploid cytotype (2n = 36) was found in A. frigida Willd. Supernumerary chromosomes (n = 9 + 3) and mixoploidy (n = 18, 36) were also observed in this taxon for the first time. Heteroploidy was present in several species. In some taxa, morphological or ecological differences between the chromosomal races were detected; in other cases no differences were noted. Karylogical and phylogenetic evidence is presented for the original chromosome number in Artemisia having been x = 9.