XVI International Botanical Congess

Reproductive strategies, flowering phenology, embryological and morphological characters were studied in two high mountain species of Primula - P. algida and P.amoena. The populations are growing on transect in the Central Caucasus between 2100-3600 m. However, the individuals of each species occupy different habitats. P. amoena is growing on steep slopes. The individuals of P. algida are distributed on more gently sloping sites. The flowering time and quantitative embryological and morphological features seem to be clinal. The altitude does not affect developmental types of ovule, embryo sac, embryo and endosperm to be identical both in different species and populations. Reproductive strategies differ for two species. The relationships between reproductive behavior and habitat characters are discussed for both species.