[Comparative analysis of the monopodial and sympodial models of bulb branching in Galanthus L].

We have examined sympodial and monopodial models of bulb branching in Galanthus. The issue of the position of the reduced prophyll is discussed. We proposed a method of formal interpretation: parts of the plant were positioned on diagrams; several variants of axial schemes were matched to each diagram; the schemes were divided into two classes, monopodial and sympodial ones, and stability of each class was estimated. In order to decide about the model of Galanthus bulb branching, we have examined plants with additional inflorescences and plants with additional leaf series. We have shown that the sympodial model predicts the presence of the reduced prophyll at the base of the innovation bud in all studied cases. Consecutive stages of prophyll reduction (prophyll of the innovation bud) can be followed in Amaryllidaceae in the following sequence: Zephyranthes, a well-developed large prophyll with green lamina; Vallota, a developed prophyll with reduced green lamina; Haemanthus, a thin chaffy short-living prophyll. At the end of this sequence is Galanthus with completely reduced prophyll at the innovation bud.