Cytological analysis ofPeliosanthes macrophyllaWall, ex Baker andP. violaceaWoll. ex Baker indicates that both of them bear 2n= 36 chromosomes. The meioses studied are normal. The transfer ofPeliosanthesfrom Haemodoraceae to Liliaceae by Hutchinson is justified as the chromosome morphology of this genus is related to that of the different tribes of Liliaceae. Chromosome complements show a clear cut gradation in size from large, medium to small. Karyotype analyses crearly indicate that structural alterations of chromosomes have played a significant role in the evolution of the genusPeliosanthes.The chromosome numbers of these two Indian species of Peliosanthes are reported for the first time.