BOTANY WITH BASICS OF HYDROBOTANY (AQUATIC PLANTS OF UKRAINE) - B.Ye. Yakubenko - 2011

X. SEED PLANTS

Family Rubiaceae

Herbs, or in the tropics and subtropics predominantly trees, shrubs, or lianas. Leaves are opposite, often with large interpetiolar stipules, making the phyllotaxy appear whorled. Flowers are small, actinomorphic, bisexual, 4- or 5-merous, aggregated into panicles composed of false umbels. The pistil is formed from two to five carpels with a 2-locular inferior Ovary; each locule contains one or many orthotropous ovules with a single integument. Fruits are dry, nut-like, less frequently capsular or drupaceous.

This is the largest family in the order Gentianales, comprising about 500 genera and 7,000 species distributed almost globally, especially in the tropics and subtropics, as well as in regions with a moderately warm climate; only a few species grow in cold regions (even in the Arctic and Antarctic). The flora of Ukraine includes 6 genera and 77 species.

Genus Bedstraw (Galium). Annual and perennial herbaceous plants. Leaves in false whorls of 4-14. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary panicles or dichasia; rarely, flowers are solitary and axillary. Flowers are 4-merous. Corolla is rotate, with an extremely short campanulate tube, sometimes lacking a noticeable tube. Stamens four. A single pistil consists of two fused carpels. Styles usually one, sometimes two, united at the base or free; ovary inferior. Floral formula: *K₍₄₎C₍₄₎A₄G_(4). Fruits are dry, splitting into two nutlets.

Fen bedstraw (Galium uliginosum L.). Perennial herbaceous plant, 10-80 cm tall; uliginophyte, entomophilous, barochorist. Stems branched. Leaves in whorls of four, six, or eight, acute, mucronate at the apex. The stem, leaves, and fruits are covered with short, rigid hairs.

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Fig. 152. Marsh bedstraw

Inflorescence terminal, paniculate, loose. Corolla up to 3 mm in diameter, white. Fruit a schizocarp (diachene), up to 1 mm long, densely papillate. Flowers in June-September. Reproduces vegetatively by rhizomes and by seeds.

Grows in bogs, swampy forests, and meadows in the Carpathians, Forest-Steppe, and northern Steppe.

Marsh bedstraw (Galium palustre L.). Perennial herbaceous plant, 10-60 cm tall; uliginophyte, entomophilous, barochorist (Fig. 152). Rhizome creeping; stem thin, ascending, branched,

sharply four-angled, rough along the angles. Leaves in whorls of four, less frequently five or six. Leaves oblong-linear, up to 2 cm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, glabrous and smooth beneath, rough along the margins and midrib with retrorse bristles, obtuse at the apex without a mucron. Inflorescence racemose, loose. Flowers bisexual, corolla 4-parted, up to 3 mm in diameter, petals white, acute. Fruits are diachenes, small, 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous, covered with tiny tubercles.

Flowers in June-August. Reproduces vegetatively by rhizomes and by seeds.

The plant is consumed by beavers.

Grows in damp meadows and bogs throughout Ukraine.

River bedstraw (Galium rivale (Sibth. et Smith) Griseb.) Perennial herbaceous plant, 20-100 cm tall; uliginophyte, entomophilous, barochorist. Stems prostrate, clinging due to downward-pointing prickles located along the Ribs. Leaves lanceolate, glossy, paler on the lower side, with margins and stems covered with downward-pointing prickles.

Inflorescence paniculate, corolla 4-parted, white. Fruits are glabrous diachenes. Flowers in June-August. Reproduces vegetatively and by seeds.

Grows in damp meadows and bogs throughout Ukraine.