Nebaykina. The life span of some species of the genus Scutellaria L., Lamiaceae

The life span of some species of the genus Scutellaria L., Lamiaceae

Maria NEBAYKINA
Botanical Garden-Institute FEB RAS, Vladivostok, Russia

The genus Scutellaria L. is the most detached among the members of the family Lamiaceae. One of the most distinctive features of this the genus is the absence of ether-oil. Of the more than 300 species distributed in temperate regions (except South Africa) and the highlands of the tropics, some are medicinal, melliferous or decorative. The life cycle for the herbaceous plants, including a species of Scutellaria, depends on the life span of their underground systems. The article deals with two groups of species: perennials and one- biannual. A similar study for the species of Scutellaria is undertaken for the first time.The first group includes species that live more than 50 years (S. baicalensis Georgi, S. creticola Juz., etc.). The underground system is represented by many-headed caudex with taproot. The above-ground system is represented by elongated shoots. Species included in this group often flower and fruit during the their ontogeny. The species of the second group for the entire life cycle of flower and fruit only once. The second group consists of species with a life span in 1-2 years (S. strigillisa Hemsl., S. tuminensis Nakai, S. ussuriensis (Regel) Kudo et al.) The underground system is represented by long rhizomes with stolons. The collapse of loose clumps of maternal individuals leads to vegetative reproduction and restoration with rapid capture of territory and the weakening of the competitive relationship. Seed reproduction in some years is absent. The above-ground system is similar to the first group of species.