Abstract:
Epimedium is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb plant that plays important roles in traditional Chinese medicine, functional foods and landscaping design. Caused by regional differences,
Epimedium plants had different plant morphology, flower traits, flowering phenology and reproductive characteristics. Three
Epimedium(E.wushanense, E.acuminatum and
E.davidii) breeding systems were researched through flowering dynamics, floral characteristics, and flower visiting insect observation of the wild natural populations of from different habitats in Sichuan. The results show that:(1)The flowering period of three
Epimedium populations are concentrated:
E.wushanense flowering period is from the late March to late April, solitary flower mostly is 3-4 d.
E.acuminatum from the late March to late April, solitary flower mostly is 3-4 d,
E.davidii from Mid-April, solitary flower mostly is 5-6 d. With the elevation of
Epimedium habitat, the initial flowering period of
Epimedium was gradually delayed, and the flowering period gradually increased; (2)From the observation of flowers and the frequency of visiting flower, Hymenoptera and Diptera were effective visitors to three species of
Epimedium, and there was a significant correlation between the floral characteristics and the floral characteristics of the effective floral visitors; (3)The number of inflorescences, flowers and fruits of the three species of
Epimedium is greatly influenced by the environment of temperature and illumination factors. Under natural conditions, the seed setting rate under natural conditions is quite different for different species of plants with the order of
E.wushanense>E.davidii>E.acuminatum.