A chromosome number of
n=12 is reported for the three monotypic genera of subtribe Castillejinae:
Clevelandia beldingii, Gentrya racemosa, and
Opicopephalus angustifolius. Chromosome numbers of
Orthocarpus correspond mostly with current infrageneric classification. Subgenus
Triphysaria has
n=11.
Orthocarpus sections
Castillejoides and
Cordylanthoides, which are closely related to
Castilleja (
x=12) and the three monotypic genera above, have
n=12 with aneuploid reductions to
n=10 in
O. linearilobus and
n=11 in
O. lacerus (a species also with
n=12). Tetraploids are found in two species.
O. brevistylus (
n=24) and
O. hispidus (
n=12, 24). The polyploid.
O. laciniatus (
n=36, 48) of Peru is postulated to be of hybrid origin between a species of
Castilleja and
Orthocarpus attenuatus. Subgenus
Orthocarpus section
Orthocarpus, which has
n=14 in all species except.
O. bracteosus (
n=15), stands apart both morphologically and in chromosome number from the remainder of the genus.