A karyotypic and anatomical study of an unidentified liliaceous plant

Abstract

An unidentified sterile liliaceous plant and three possible relatives were studied karyotypically and anatomically. All these plants have a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 14. The possibility of the sterile plant having arisen as a result of a mutation appears unlikely, when compared with the possibility of hybrid origin. Chromosome morphology rules out Bulbine latifolia (L.f.) R. & S. and Aloe arborescens Mill, as possible parents. The sterile plant and Aloe marlothii Berger have similar karyotypes and. therefore. A. marlothii may be one of the parents. A close relationship between the sterile plant and the genus Aloe is further confirmed by their similar epidermal structure.