Article

The world-wide genus Artemisia L. contains some 500 species and is largely distributed in the Mediterranean region. Three taxa (four populations from the Iberian Peninsula and Egypt) trom subg. Dracunculus Besser were studi ed trom cytogenetical point of view. They form a polyploid seri es with the basic chromosome number x=9. Two fluorochromes, chromomycinA3 and bisbenzimide Hoechst 33258, reveal the chromosomal regions where repetitive DNA is rich in GC and AT, respectively. The genes for the ribosomal DNA have been located by in situ hybridization for the first time in this genus. This first approach to a more detailed knowledge ofthe genome organisation ofthe taxa studi ed may be relevant to future taxonomic and evolutionary studies.