Chromosome number of Carex brevispicula (Cyperaceae), a sedge endemic to Korea

Carex brevispicula (Cyperaceae) is endemic to Korea and is characterized by constricted achenes, short lateral spikes, and awned staminate and pistillate scales. The spe-cies classified in sect. Mitratae occurs throughout South Korea, perennating on mountains and/or rocky slopes under half shadow conditions. Meiotic chromosomes of the species were examined in this study, in which 33 meiotic cells from seven populations were found to be less than 2 & mu;m long with non-constricted chromosomes (n = 34 ? ). The stable chromosome number may be related to the narrow geographical distribution and/or distinct achene mor-phology. Further investigations of the distribution, morphological character variation, and chromosome characteristics should be conducted with closely related taxa to understand the derivation of the species and its endemism in Korea.