FLOWER DEVELOPMENT IN THE LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY

Abstract

In the lowbush blueberry, floret primordia appear during June. Floral parts appear in acropetal succession during July. Ontogenetically the carpels are at first appendicular and later receptacular. The epigynous floret, in miniature, is formed by the first of August. During this month, some reproductive tissue is differentiated in both ovary and stamens. The characteristic resting stage is assumed during the autumn. Mitosis was observed in material collected during January and by late winter a number of ovules had two adjacent archesporial cells, the outer one later becoming functional. Definite differentiation starts during March. Active growth, including the initiation of meiosis, becomes general during April. Meiosis is completed in the anthers during the first week of May and about a week later in the ovules. Subsequent development in the ovule is of the Polygonum type. The flower is mature by the last week in May.