SIGNIFICANCE OF SEED DIMORPHISM IN AL YSICARPUS

Alysicarpus monilifer DC. (Leguminosae) is a perennial spreading herb of open, sunny sites, commonly found in the grasslands of the Gangetic plains (Duthie 1960) and other parts of India (Cooke 1958), in Africa and in Australia (Willis 1966). At Varanasi the species is abundant (Nelivigi 1962; Joshi & Reddi 1968). The characteristic beaded fruit (lomentum) contains small, oval seeds and breaks into one-seeded portions. Two types of seed can be recognized: yellow-mottled and brownsmooth. They behave differently in various respects, which may be of importance to the regeneration of the species.