• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.588-592
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• 2012

To examine the reason of empty samara production of Chinese elm, Ulmus parviflora, twenty two planted trees in Wonju-si were monitered for three years in terms of their flowering, pollinatiom system and samara characteristics. Inflorescences with bisexual flowers of Chinese elm are developed in the leaf axils on the twigs. Dichogamous flowers are varied with protogynuous and protandrous flower, and stamens in some bisexual flowers are developed in seperated time on a inflorescence or a tree. It is revealed newly that the flower of Chinese elm is out-crossed and partially insect(Apis mellifera) pollinated. The ratios of sound samara are significantly differed among years, the heighest values 65.5% were shown in 2009, lowered 42.9% in 2010, and the lowest 37.5% in 2011. This result might be affected by mean daily precipitation and number of rainy days during the flowering date, and lower temperature during the floral initiation stage, especially in 2011. These findings suggest that Chinese elm has self-incompatibility strategy and much pollination failure resulted in a production of much empty samaras. Further researches on the empty-seed production strategies and pollination system of major tree species might be needed.