HYB: unanswered question - base chromosome number in irises

<Does anyone know what is the "primitive" basic chromosome number in
irises and what is the course of chromosome evolution in irises (or any
online help or references)?  Erdošan Usta>

I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer this one, but maybe if I try,
others will step in and straighten me out.  There are 24, 32, and 40
chromosome counts for species irises listed in The World of Irises in
the Eupogon (bearded) group.  The Hexapogons (arils) seem to have 22
(not as many are listed).  It says some of the Spurias from southern
Italy have counts as low as 8, 9, and 10.  It gives counts of 20 & 22
for some of the bulbous irises.

So maybe the base number is 8.  (well, it is the smallest number they
report...).  There have been a few posts here now and then on the
subject of evolution of iris species, but I've gotten the impression
that not enough is know for folks to agree on much.  There has been a
lot of speculation and some research about evolution of various hybrids
that make up the basis for modern cultivated irises of various sorts and
a few posts on the subject here, but that doesn't sound like what you
are looking for.

Hope this is a tiny bit of help and maybe others will chime in.

Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
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