6. Beitrag zur Wuchsform und Biologie der Gefäßpflanzen des hercynischen Raumes: Muscari tenuiflorum TAUSCH (Hyacinthaceae)

Abstract

HERRMANN, N.: Biology and growth form of Muscari tenuiflorum TAUSCH (Hyacinthaceae). - Hercynia N.F. 36 (2003): 1–11. Muscari tenuiflorum is a bulbous geophyte with 3–6 narrow, glabrous, slightly glaucous leaves. The bulb is cream-white to light yellow, 2,5–4 cm high and 1,8–2,8 cm in diameter when mature, covered by a greyish/brown papery tunic. The bulb scales are free; bulb is to be found in a depth of 5–12 cm. Up to 25 adventitious roots are formed in a year, branched to second degree. The stem system is a sympodium. A stem generation of an adult plant consists of 1 cataphyll, followed by 3–6 assimilating leaves (up to 1,5 cm broad, including underground parts up to 35 cm long) and finally another single cataphyll, which bears the renewal bud in its axle. The only inflorescence (raceme) is terminal; it consists of fertile and sterile flowers. The tubular perigone of fertile flowers (pale beige/violet; 6–8 mm long) is distally constricted. The gynoeceum consists of 3 locules, each of them with 2 ovules. Flowers are autogamous or pollinated by insects (bumblebees). The fruit is a capsule; up to 150 seeds (= diaspores) might be formed per plant in a year. Seed dormancy is broken by low temperature. Germination is epigeal. The juvenile stage lasts 2 years at least. No vegetative propagation occurs. In Germany the occurences of M. tenuiflorum are restricted to the South of Sachsen-Anhalt and to the North of Thuringia. The species occurs in xerophytic- and mesoxerophytic grassland. M. tenuiflorum is locally endangered.