The specific features of the reproductive biology of the rare species Gueldenstaedtia monophilla Fisch. (Fabaceae)

Abstract

The seed production of the rare species Gueldenstaedtia monophylla has been investigated in 19 coenotic populations in the territories of Russia (Central Altai) and Mongolia (the north-western part). G. monophylla reproduces exclusively by seeds and is characterized by the low number and density of the plants in the populations. Its populations have a high proportion of generative plants: from 31 to 84% from the total number of the plants. The plants of G. monophylla have a small number of generative shoots, varying from 1 to 6 per plant. The number of flowers on the plants is low, too, and varies in the populations on average from 1.2 to 15.3 per plant. The potential seed production (PSP) varies considerably from 13.5 to 308.6 ovules per plant. The real seed production is much lower, to constitute from 6.2 to 74.5 seeds per plant. The low seed production, fructification that occurs not every year, and scanty populations make the species vulnerable.