Abstract:

10 morphologic characteristic indexes of seeds and legumes in Gleditsia sinensis were investigated in 7 locations in China. The result showed: There were significant differences among morphologic characteristics of individual tree from the same population, and an extremely significant difference existed among those from different populations except width of legume, length of seed, and length to width ratio of legume. The mass, length, width and length to width ratio of legume showed a south-north variation at a same longitude; Width to thickness ratio of legume, and length to width ratio of seed were proved a west-east variation at a same latitude; Southwest_northeast variation existed at the thickness of legume, length of seed and length to width ratio of seed; There was no significant trend of geographic variation in 1 000 seeds' mass, which were mainly related to the altitude of distribution locations, water, solar radiation, the length of frost-free period and the burning hot.

Key words: Gleditsia sinensis, seed, legume, morphologic characteristics, geographic variation