Architecture and life forms of Thymus jenisseensis (Lamiaceae)

¹ Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
² Katanov Khakass State University, 655017 Abakan, Russia

^* Corresponding author: kolegova e@mail.ru

Abstract

Thymus jenisseensis is endemic to Southern Siberia. The structure of Thymus jenisseensis were studied with the use of an architectural approach. The architectural unit consist of branched compound skeletal axis of the 1^st and 2^nd order, and is repeated many times in the structure of adults. As a result of studying the architectural units of individuals growing in different sites of a coenopopulation, in the upper border of the forest belt (Tsagan-Shibetu, Republic of Tuva), differences were identified. An architectural unit consisting of branched orthotropic or ascending basisympodially accreting compound skeletal axes develops on a site of a dry riverbed; an architectural unit consisting of branched orthotropic or ascending acrosympodially accreting compound skeletal axes develops on a site of high-altitude steppe on a plain. The diversity of compound skeletal axes in the structure of architectural units contributes to the formation of two biomorphs (dwarf subshrub and dwarf shrub), changes in the vitality and duration of development of T. jenisseensis individuals. The identified features of architecture are morphological mechanisms of adaptation of the species to living conditions.