Cytotaxonomic notes on the tribe Helieae (Gentianaceae)

A survey of all known chromosome counts of gentian tribe Helieae are presented including new reports for ten species. Amongst the novelties are four genera of the Gentianaceae that are reported for the first time, <i>Calolisianthus</i> and <i>Helia</i> (both Helieae), and <i>Schultesia</i> and <i>Zygostigma</i> (both Chironieae). In the Helieae, our results reinforce the hypothesis of Weaver 1969 that two ploidy series occur in the tribe, one polyploid based on n = 20 and one dysploid based on n = 21. The basal chromosome number for the Helieae remains to be determined.