N.A. Tonkova
Biomorphological characteristic of the subfamily Pyroloideae Jeps. (Ericaceae) in Primorsky Krai
Year: 2013, Issue: LXI, Pages: 81 - 118
Studies of life forms of the subfamily Pyroloideae Jeps. (Ericaceae), growing in Primorsky Krai, showed that describing biomorphs of these plants, it is necessary to consider the type of mycorrhiza. Biomorphological peculiarities of 5 species and their variations of the subfamily Pyroloideae were revealed, and 8 life forms were described. The presence of several life forms in the taxon is associated with a polymorphism of some species. Depending on ecological conditions of plant growth, the degree of mycotrophy, and, therefore, the range of trophic nutrition were established to change not only inside the subfamily, but also within species, from autotrophic to mixotrophic and full myco-heterotrophy (plant is fed only by fungus). The increasing link with fungal symbiont, changing of aboveground plant part, accelerating passing of ontogenesis phases, and replacing of vegetative propagation by seed one occur in the following sequence: Orthilia secunda — P. renifolia, Pyrola rotundifolia— P. japonica — P. rotundifolia subsp. rotundifolia var. incarnata — Chimaphila japonica — Pyrola japonica subsp. subaphylla.