ИСТИНА

The family Restionaceae (Poales) comprises about 48 genera and 543 species. Significantly abundant in a variety of habitats, native species of Restionaceae represent a key vegetation component in plant communities in two areas of their greatest diversity, one in Southern Africa and the other in South-Western Australia. In contrast to the relatively simple organisation of vegetative shoots, the reproductive structures of Restionaceae are characterised by great morphological diversity. This investigation underlines the specific nature of some details of inflorescence in Restionaceae. In Leptocarpus denmarkicus, inflorescence identity stays unclear and controversial. Sussenguth (1943) interpreted inflorescence units as spikes with bracts bearing axillary flowers possessing two unequal bracteoles. In contrast, Briggs and Johnson (1998) believe that flowers are aggregated in highly compound structures: each one-flowered unit is a true spikelet consisting only of a single ‘flower stalk’ bearing two bracts. However, Briggs and Johnson (1998) do not provide any evidence to support the substantiation of their opinion. Due to detailed morphological analysis, it has been shown that the female inflorescence unit in L. denmarkicus is a double spike. Spirally arranged glumes represent pherophylls bearing lateral spikelets. The reduced one-flower spikelet is a system of short axis and two bracts among which one is fertile. Analogous situations may occur in other species of Restionaceae. Future research will focus on inflorescence structure, evolution and morphological cladistic analysis in Restionaceae and allied families. The scope of potential future research is to analyse the ecological interconnection between inflorescence morphology and vegetation strategy.