Woolf, S., L. Avjean, and C.K. McMullen. 2006. Meiotic Chromosome Counts of Endemic Members of Cordia from the Galápagos Islands.

Poster Abstract: Four species of Cordia are thought to be endemic to the Galápagos Islands: C. andersonii, C. leucophlyctis, C. revoluta, and C. scouleri. Three of these members are closely related to Andean species that are found in Columbia and Peru, while C. revoluta has no clear relationship with mainland relatives. The ancestors of all four endemic species, however, are thought to have arrived via long-distance dispersal by birds. Current efforts on this project are aimed at observing and documenting actively dividing, meiotic pollen mother cells in the hopes of making haploid chromosome counts. Anthers for these studies are being obtained from dissections of preserved floral buds that were collected during a 2005 trip to the Galápagos Islands. Acetocarmine staining and squashing techniques employed in this project follow established and proven protocols. It is anticipated that current and future efforts on this project will result in clarification and possible revision of the existing classification of these species.