Passing Winter Strategies of Tapiscia sinensis during Its Extreme Long Reproductive Cycle

Tapiscia sinensis Oliv.is an endemic and rare tree in China,and protected by Chinese government.After the blossom and fertilization in May,T.sinensis Oliv.passes the long winter with its naked ovary(undeveloped young fruit) and develops a set of unique strategies to survive the winter.It took 17 months from its floral primordium initiation to fruit maturity.Secondary protective tissues that are similar to perideum are formed on ovary wall and the surface of receptacle which expands down to surround the fruit stalk.The inflated receptacle and the naked ovary form a "passing winter complex".Abundant starch grains are accumulated in the parenchyma of ovary wall and inflated receptacle.Some cells form mucilaginous locules or develop into idioblasts containing druse crystals or tannin.The special passing winter strategies of T.sinensis Oliv.demonstrate its adaptation to environment during the long evolution history.