Chromosome number thia Gardneri MEISSN.

Abstract

Edgeworthia Gardineri from Nepal Himalaya is studied in relation to its use as a possible source of paper materials. The study was done in comparison with the Japanese corresponding species, E. papyrifera. The Himalayan species has the chromosome number of 108 at root-tip cells so it is 12X, because the basic chromosome number of Edgeworthia is X=9. The general morphological characteristics of the Himalayan species are almost similar to the Japanese species which is usually tetraploid, but the former has larger and thicker leaves and is evergreen while the Japanese species is deciduous. When the Himalayan species is compared with the artificially induced Japanese octoploid plants, it has. larger stomata cells, more chloroplasts in them and longer hairs on the leaves, but shorter fibre cells in the bark which are most important for paper materials.