XVI International Botanical Congess

In alpine plants the relative importance of sex as means of reproduction has been questioned for a long time, yet most are able to produce viable seed. Lloydia serotina (Liliaceae), the alplily, is an herbaceous perennial common in alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere that produces viable seed. The alplily produces male and hermaphrodite flowers and, because of the prevalence of solitary flowers, most individuals are effectively male or hermaphrodite for one growing season. Sex expression is labile from year to year. The influences on expression are presently unknown in this system but are likely a complex mixture of internal resources, environment, and genetic information. In an alpine system, the short growing season and unpredictable environment/pollinators would seem to discourage variability in the reproductive strategy of a species. However, these very factors may maintain the labile system found in the alplily.