Abstract: Cunnighamia unicanaliculata D. Y. Wang et H. L. Liu and var. pyramidalis D. Y. Wang et H. L. Lin, two new taxa recently found in south-western Sichuan Province of China, have both a very restricted yet sympatric geographical distribution, including Dechang and Miyi districts.[7] There is a debate as regards the specific status of C. unicanaliculata. A comparative karyological investigation, including chromosome numbers, karyotype analyses and measurements of nuclear volume and DNA contents, was under- taken in order to shed some light on the phylogenetic relationships between these taxa and C. lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. The kaxyotype formulas of the above two taxa and C. lanceolata are as follows: C.unicanaliculata; K(2n) = 22 =L8m+ S12m+S2sm; C. unicanaliculata var. pyramidalis: K(2n)= 22= L8m +S10m+S4sm; C. lanceolata (Type A): K(2n) =22 = Lsm+ S14m S2sm; C. lanceolata(TypeB): K(2n) = 22 = L8m + S14m . Frown the above karyotypes, we have found that C. unicanaliculata and var. pyrami- dalis, which are very similar to each other, are closely related to C. lanceolata (Type B), but seem more strongly differentiated in the following respects: (1) the former posses- sing 1--2 pairs of chromosomes with submedian primary constrictions each, while the latter with all chromosomes possessing median primary constrictions; (2) the satellites of the former being always located on the 4th pair of chromosomes, whereas the position of satellites of the latter varying with geographical distribution, being usually on the 1st and 4th pairs of chromosomes; (3) B-chromosomes being present in the latter (predominantly in the geographical races of southwestern China) but not seen in the former; (4) the average chromosome volume of C. unicanaliculata var. pyramidalis being 623.44, while those of the four geographical races of C. lanceolata being 667.2–796.0; (5) the comparative DNA amount of C. unicanaliculata var. pyramidalis being 5.54, while those of the various geographical races of C. lanceolata being 6.20–7.67. Upon an overall comparison of the data with regard to karyology, geographical distribution, ecology, morphology and isoenzymic patterns of the taxa in question, we come to the following conclusions. Cunninghamia unicanaliculata and var. pyramidalis are most likely taxa originated from natural populations of C. lanceolata. The extreme environmental conditions of the habitats axe thought to have played an important role in the production of these two new taxa. An elevation of over 2000 meters and the periodical aridity of climate of the habitat, which differed remarkably from those of C. lanceolata, made possible the isolation of alternative populations, accompanied by selection for adaptation to extreme environments. But the differences between these two newly found taxa and C. lanceolata are karyologically minor and morphologically quantitative and tend to display a more or less continuous variation pattern. It is, therefore, suggested that they are probably geographical races or ecotypes of C. lanceolata, and are not distinct enough from the latter to warrant specific status. It seems best to treat both C. unicanaliculata and var. pyramidalis as infraspecific catorories of C. lanceolata.

Key words: Cunninghamia, C. unicanaliculata & var. pyramidalis, Karyotype, Nuclear volume and DNA contents