Meiosis in the Pollen Mother Cells of Some Cannas

The research es have been performed on some representatives of the genus Canna. The intention of the author was: a. to describe the general course of the meiosis of the pollen mother cells, b. to compare this course of different forms which have been studied, c. to trace how far with the representatives of the genus Canna particularities appear in the meiotic phenomena wh ich are of im- portance for the contemplation of the method of pairing of the chromosomes. Through former cytological researches by HONING (1928) the expec- tation was roused that in this material something might be found for a critical inspection of the problem about para-and telosyndesis. The cytological literature with regard to species and varieties of the genus Canna is not very extensive, most documents about that matter are of a systematical and morphological nature, especially, in connection with the rem ar kable structure of the flower (COSTERL:S, 1916,1920). After 1900, also this genus was used for genetical re- searches; for several forms the number of chromosomes was examined, but so far attempts to make a connection between cytological and genetical occurrences have not been made (apart from a single exception, BELLIXG, 1921, 1925, HONIXG, 1915, 1923, 1928).