FLOWERING BIOLOGY OF GAGEA MINIMA (LILIACEAE)
Vladimir N. Godin1, Grigorii K. Botov2, Julia A. Ponyaeva2
1Central Siberian Botanical Garden, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
2Moscow Pedagogical State University, Moscow, Russia
Keywords: Liliaceae, Gagea minima, flowering biology, early spring ephemeroids
Abstract
The anthecological features of the polycarpic, bulbous, semi-rosette plant, Gagea minima (L.) Ker Gawl, were studied in the Moscow Region. Observations were carried out in 2021-2024 according to generally accepted methods. The flowers are weakly protandrous. There is a gradual opening of the anthers of all six stamens over 3 days. The duration of flowering of an individual flower is 4-8 days when an overlap of the staminate and stigma stages is observed. In the evening (after 18 pm) and under unfavourable conditions, the perianth closes and the flowers droop. The synflorescence is an open thyrsus, in which the number of axes of the second order (composed monochasia) is 1-3. The opening of flowers in the synflorescence as a whole and its structural units (monochasia) occurs in a clear sequence, according to the order of branching of the shoot on which the flowers are borne. In sunny and fairly warm weather, the flowering period of synflorescences is 6-8 days, while in cloudy and cool weather it increases to 12 days. According to the ratio of pollen grains and ovules in flowers (308 ± 18), G. minima is a facultatively autogamous plant. The plants display a morning opening rhythm with a maximum at 8 am. Flowers that bloomed the previous days open earlier than flowers that open for the first time.
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