Variability of Caltha palustris L. populations in garden culture

Abstract

On the basis of studies performed in the experimental garden the character of the variability of <em>Caltha palustris</em> L. populations is described. Individuals were bred under uniform conditions from diaspores of meadow, springwood, flood-plain forest and alder forest populations. The results obtained allow to evaluate the hypothesis concerning the ecological preference of cytotypes (S m i t 1967, 1968) and the somewhat different ecological requirements of two subspecies: <em>C. palustris ssp. palustris</em> and <em>C. palustris ssp. cornuta</em>. It was found that each population includes individuals with different cytotypes. The situation is similar as far as subspecies are concerned, distinguished on the basis of fruit morphology (Fig. 1). It should be stressed, however, that, investigations of many years duration raised serious doubts as to the diagnostic value of fruit morphology (Figs. 2, 3). On the basis of the preserved differences between the populations in shoot habitus, reproduction and phenology in garden culture, a springwood and an alder forest ecotype were distinguished. Meadow and flood-plain populations exhibited a transitional character with certain similarities both to the alder forest and to the springwood populations.

In situ and ex situ variability of phenological and morphological features in Caltha palustris L. under the conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe

“…В природных популяциях модификации морфологических признаков имеют характер непрерывной изменчивости, обусловленной различиями в условиях произрастания (Woodell, Kootin-Sanwu, 1971;Blagojević et al, 2013). В культуре наибольшие различия по морфологическим признакам и семенной продуктивности растений связаны с происхождением популяций (Falińska, 1981).…”