The Stellaria media group in Central Europe – chromosome counts and differentiating characters

Abstract

Chromosome counts in the S. media group in Central Europe (Germany, France and Switzerland) resulted in the following numbers: S. apetala (2n = 22), S. media (2n = 40, 2n = 80), S. neglecta (2n = 22). The different ploidy levels have also been corroborated by additional flowcytometrical analysis. S. media exhibits a wide ecological and genetic variation. Therefore, its differentiation from S. neglecta can be difficult and determinations should be based on all relevant characters, especially seed size and number of stamens. Seed tubercles are variable and may lead to misidentifications. A rarely used character is seed mass (measured for 100 seeds).