Reproductive Biology of Asarum sieboldii Miq.

Abstract

The seasonal developmental rhythm, floral and fruit morphology, anthesis, and fructification of Asarum sieboldii were studied in a natural plant community in the southern part of the Russian Far East. The flower structure was investigated in ditails. It was found that the flower does not have a gynostemium. The flowers are protogynous. At the first anthesis stage, the anthers are closed and cross-pollination may be realized by ants (Hymenoptera) or flies (Dolichopodidae, Diptera). At the second stage of anthesis, there is direct contact of anthers with the pistil stigma and self-pollination occurs. The perianth is involved in the formation of fruit. The fruit is a six-locular, fleshy, half-inferior capsule. Asarum sieboldii has a high productivity of fruits and seeds. The fruit set is 89% after self-pollination. Viable seeds per fruit is 29 ± 2, the seed set is 69 ± 5%. The agents of seed dissemination are ants: Leptothorax acervorum and Myrmica ruginodis (Formicidae, Hymenoptera).