Research on the biology of Colchicum autumnale L. III. Morphological development of plants grown from seeds. IV. Floral variability in a transplanted spontaneous population

Abstract

III. Common Autumn Crocus grown from seeds formed in the third year after sowing a new bulbotuber part with many fasciculate and one stake-like roots and a single aboveground leaf. The stake-like root, developed from the bulbotuber has a histological structure of a primary root with stocking functions and has a probable role in the formation of the new bulbotuber. The bulbotuber is advancing downwards, to lower soil levels by a growing basal protuberance. IV. In a population of spontaneous origin, transplanted from a natural meadow to the experimental field, five extreme morphotypes could be identified according to the dimension and form of tepals.