INTERGENERIC HYBRIDIZATION IN FLOWERING PLANTS

Summary The importance of hybridization in speciation is emphasized by listing most of the known intergeneric hybrids in flowering plants and including a figure (23,675) of all the known hybrids including interspecife ones. No claims are made that the list is complete or absolutely accurate. Some of the strong points regarding hybridization as a process are given. In addition, it is pointed out that hybrids, throughout the range, show both dominance and intermediacy, some possess normal meiosis and many are highly or partially fertile. Although mutation has been given the major role in effecting diversity in the natural world during the first half of this century, it is now quite clear to many biologists, that the role of hybridization in speciation has been