LIFE FORMS OF THE SEDGES IN RELATION TO T HEIR SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

The sedges (genus Carex) include 7 principal life forms that could be identified on the basis of the following biomorphological traits: hibe rnacle position relative to the ground level: shoot initial growth pat terns; shoot renovation patterns; rhizome position relative to the gro und level. As in the other plants, taxic and biomorphological evolutio nary processes are correlated in the sedges, most closely at the level s of sections, subsections, and species complexes. The sedge life form s identified by the above traits correspond, to various degree, to par ticular habitats that may differ significantly by their ecological cha racteristics. Such weak dependence of morphologically defined life for ms on environmental features may reflect preadaption of life forms to various habitats.