RESUMEN
The third largest angiosperm family, Leguminosae, displays a broad range of reproductive strategies and has an exceptional practical value. Whereas annual legume species are mostly planted as crops, there is a significant interest in breeding and cultivating perennials. It is therefore of importance to compare reproductive traits, their interactions and the resulting productivity between related annual and perennial species. Two highly variable taxa were chosen for this purpose, the Fabeae tribe, including numerous temperate crops, and the largest angiosperm 'megagenus' Astragalus. A dataset of quantitative reproductive traits was composed of both originally obtained and previously published data. As a result of statistical analysis, we found that perennials in both groups tend to produce more flowers per axillary racemose inflorescence as well as more ovules per carpel. Perennial Astragalus also have larger flowers. Only a part of the developing flowers and ovules gives rise to mature pods and seeds. This difference is especially pronounced in small populations of rare and threatened perennials. Numerous reasons underlie the gap between potential and real productivity, which may be potentially bridged in optimal growing conditions.
RESUMEN
The vast majority of highly valuable species of the Leguminosae in temperate latitudes belong to the Inverted Repeat-Lacking Clade (IRLC). Despite having a generally conserved monosymmetric floral morphology, members of this group are remarkable with a pronounced diversity of floral sizes, modes of staminal fusion, and pollination strategies. This paper examined androecia and floral nectaries (FNs) in selected genera of the IRLC. External morphology was investigated using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In some cases, the pattern of staminal fusion was additionally examined in transverse sections using light microscopy. Androecia of all selected genera fell into one of four types, viz., monadelphous, pseudomonadelphous, diadelphous or diadelphous reduced (with inner stamens converted into sterile staminodes). However, there was significant variation in the stamens' mode of contact, as well as the shape and size of the fenestrae providing access to FNs. Some types seemed to arise independently in different genera, thus providing a high level of homoplasy. FNs were more conserved and comprised areas of secretory stomata in the abaxial part of the receptacle and/or hypanthium. Nectariferous stomata could be found in very miniaturized flowers (Medicago lupulina) and could even accompany monadelphy (Galega). This indicates that preferential self-pollination may nevertheless require visitation by insects.