On heterocarpy and heterospermy of Caragana microphylla (Fabaceae)

摘要

Heterocarpy and heterospermy in Caragana microphylla was identified. Quantitative (size of beans) and structural (various forms and colour of seeds) features of heterocarpy were demonstrated. Heterospermy is characterized not only by quantitative (size of seeds) and structural (various forms and colour of seeds) but also physiological (different germinating capacity, beginning and duration of germination) features. In addition, physiological heterogeneity of seeds is characteristic of uneven age individuals of Caragana, and of different parts of the same individual. In one bean the seeds of the same colour are usually developed but of different size and form. The seeds in beans of the same individual are the same in colour. Soft seeds are probably typical of middle-age individuals of middle and undersized shrubs. They are formed in lower part of shrubs, being large in size and often of the same colour (green or brown). Hard seeds are uusually small, they are characteristic of young individuals, occur on large shrubs, in their middle part. More careful observations are necessary for final conclusions.