The geographical distribution of different karyotypes in Tropical African genera of Hyacinthaceae is studied. InAlbuca, Dipcadi, Drimia(includingUrginea), andDrimiopsisthere seem to be a general trend of increasing level of ploidy and/or basic number. There is also a tendency of increasing karyotype asymmetry from the south towards north and west. Southern Africa is therefore probably a centre of dispersal (and origin?) for these genera. In the subgenusUrophyllonofOrnithogalumthe cytological conditions are in accordance with a hypothesis of northern origin and migration via East Africa towards south and west. Several new chromosome numbers are presented.