On flowering patterns of alien species: 2. Robinia pseudoacacia, R.× ambigua, and R. neomexicana

A comparative study of the structure of the flower in three species of RobiniaL., R. pseudoacacia, R. × ambigua, and R. neomexicana, was carried out. The widely naturalized R. pseudoacacia, as compared to the two other species, has the smallest sizes of flower organs at all stages of development. Qualitative traits that describe each phase of the flower development were identified. A set of microscopic morphological traits of the flower (both quantitative and qualitative) was analyzed. Additional taxonomic traits were identified: shape of anthers, size and shape of pollen grains, and the extent of pollen fertility.