Occurrence of abnormalities in the ovary and ovule structure and their effect on fruit production in Chaerophyllum cicutaria Vill. (Umbelliferae)

Chaerophyllum cicutaria is an andromonoecious member of the Umbelliferae family. Apart from male flowers it also produces numerous hermaphrodite flowers the ovaries of which fail to transform into fruits. Almost one quarter of such non-fruiting hermaphrodites reveal an abnormal structure of their ovaries and/or ovules while the development of others is arrested without visible structural changes. Presumed consequences of the abnormalities are discussed