Karyomorphology of two subspecies of Anthemis maritima (Asteraceae) from Algeria

Abstract

The chromosome number and karyomorphology of two subspecies of the Anthemis maritima complex collected from two different coastal localities in the Skikda region (northeastern Algeria) are reported in this study: Anthemis maritima subsp. maritima, which is common throughout the Mediterranean, and A. maritima subsp. bolosii, a strict Algerian endemic recently rediscovered after 100 years of disappearance. The Feulgen staining method indicated that Anthemis maritima subsp. maritima is a tetraploid with 2n=4x=36 chromosomes (2n=11m+3sm+4st), and Anthemis maritima subsp. bolosii is a diploid with 2n=2x=18 chromosomes (2n=4m+3sm+2st). Both taxa have symmetrical karyotypes, 2A and 1A, respectively, according to Stebbins classification. These findings are novel for both the subspecies Anthemis maritima subsp. bolosii and the Algerian population of Anthemis maritima subsp. maritima.