Phyllotactic patterns in capitula of Carlina acaulis L.

Abstract

Phyllotaxis of inflorescences in Carlina acaulis L. is spiral. In the majority of capitula it is represented by the main Fibonacci series. From the one thousand of specimens, that were examined, thirty five new phyllotactic series were found: eighteen monojugies, for instance (2,17), (4,11), (7,37) and seventeen multijugies, such as 2(8,9), 2(5,11), 8(2,3). The patterns had been identified on the basic of two or more consecutive numbers of phyllotactic series. Both, the continuous and discontinous transformations of phyllotactic patterns, as well as "deviations" from the parastichy group numbers were observed. The deviations were distinguished as the probable cases of the discontinuous transformations in which the sectorial change in the parastichy number occured, but the ultimate phyllotactic series could not be determined.