Article

The somatic chromosomes and karyotypes of 12 Taraxacum species were determined. All studied species were collected from natural habitats in Marmara Region, NW Turkey. The chromosome numbers of Taraxacum aznavourii (2n = 24), T. gracilens (2n = 24), T. hyberniforme (2n = 32) and T. pseudobrachyglossum (2n = 24) are reported here for the first time. The basic chromosome number was found as x = 8 and all the examined taxa are triploid or tetraploid. All the examined species of the sections Erythrosperma and Palustria are triploids (2n = 3x = 24), while of the section Scariosa all are tetraploids (2n = 4x = 32), with the exception of T. minimum, which is both triploids and tetraploids. The detailed karyotype features of the 12 Taraxacum species are also presented.