XVI International Botanical Congess

Daphne arbuscula (Thymelaeaceae) is a diploid, old endemic taxon of Muránska planina Plateau in Slovakia (Central Europe) with a well differentiated karyotype. It requires cross pollination and is adapted to insect pollination, although reproduction by fruit is rather limited and vegetative reproduction predominates. Considering the abundant flowering and saving type of the growth in the extreme conditions of its area, it seems possible that recycling of nutrients from tissues of unfertilised ovules is the part of a life strategy of this species. The senescence of calyx, stamens and stigma in the unfertilised flower is followed by the degeneration of individual tissues of ovules. This resembles senescing leaves of deciduous trees. D. arbuscula is referred to in the IUCN Plant Red Book as a rare species.