[Observation on biological characteristics of wild Pseudostellaria heterophylla].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the status and regular pattern in growing development of wild Pseudostellaria heterophylla. METHODS: Observed and studied on wild Pseudostellaria heterophylla during growth periods continuously. RESULTS: The growing development of Pseudostellaria heterophylla could be divided into three stages asexual reproduction stage, coexistence of asexual and sexual reproduction stage. In the first two years of seed germination, there was only asexual reproduction, from which substitute tuberous root and cauline tuberous root were formed; Afterward flowering and fructifying sexual reproduction occurred to the plant that had developed from tuberous root while it continued with asexual reproduction; Only sexual reproduction existed during the last year of the Pseudostellaria heterophylla plant before its death. The Pseudostellaria heterophylla plant above ground grew from early spring to late autumn and over-wintered with tuberous root. There were two patterns of asexual reproduction substitution with tuberous root in spring and expanding of adventitious root on stolon into cauline tuberous root in autumn. All tuberous roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla were originated from adventitious root; The existence of tuberous root was one year at most; The rapidly expanding period of tuberous root was during February and March. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a reference for reformative cultivation of Pseudostellaria heterophylla.