XVI International Botanical Congess

Heterocarpy is an appearance of different fruit or different seeds in one plant species, in common meaning of word it related only to a shape of seed (or fruit, depending from concrete plant species). We consider a heterocarpy to be also a different quality of seed, which is determined by location of seedbud in inflorescence and degree of its development. Morphological criteria of separation seeds of different quality are their size and weight. Well developed seeds are of maximum size, weight and germination. uch seeds as a rule developed from ovary of flowers, which go to flower first of other and have a longer period of blooming. For example, marginal flowers in Apiaceae marginal ultimate umbels or the same ones in Asteraceae heads. Formed seeds pass through all the stages of virgin period. Plants originated from that seeds become generative earlier. Small seeds germinate slower, duration of their virgin period is 2-5 years, lethal percent is higher.