A REVIEW OF CHROMOSOME-NUMBERS IN BOMBACACEAE WITH NEW COUNTS FOR ADANSONIA

New chromosome counts are reported for all eight species of Adansonia. The six Malagasy species and the Australian species have 2n = 88, whereas the single African species, A. digitata, has 2n = 160. We review published counts for the family as a whole and conclude that there have been many inaccurate counts but that 2n = 86-92 appears to be general. A. digitata, Rhodognaphalon brevicuspe and Eriotheca pubescens are inferred to be polyploids. The tribe Durioneae, with counts of 2n = 28 and 2n = 56, is distant from the remainder of the family, as also suggested by morphological, biogeographic and molecular data.