FRUIT AND SEED MORPHOLOGY IN IRIS SIBIRICA L. AND GLADIOLUS IMBRICАTUS L. IN RELATION WITH THE MODES OF DISSEMINATION

The morphological characteristics of fruits and seeds of Iris sibirica L. and Gladiolus imbricаtus L. are provided. It was established that dissemination in Iris sibirica proceeds by the way of ballistochory and in Gladiolus imbricatus by the way of auto-, ballisto- and anemochory. The effectiveness of dissemination (delivering from the fruit and high area of dispersion) in Gladiolus imbricatus is higher than that of Iris sibirica due to the full capsule ruptuning, lightweight seeds with the girdling wing and seeds attachment on the upper part of the fruit. Seeds of Iris sibirica distribute mainly within or on the margings of the parent individuals through a slight rupturing of the fruit and the presence of heavy seeds without special morphological adaptations for the dissemination.