Crops, weeds and gathered plants in the vicinity of the mediaeval Castle Kolno, near Brzeg, S-W Poland, and a morphometric approach for some taxa

Abstract In the present work, numerous species of useful and wild plants were identified in archaeobotanical samples (moat deposit two ceramic jugs) collected from mediaeval locality Kolno Castle, near Brzeg, south-western Poland. At confluence rivers, vicinity castle, it was possible to cultivate cereals on poor alluvial soil, ground with a layer ferruginous concretions. The characteristic weeds classes Secalinetea Chenopodietea indicated cultivation winter garden plants. Polymorphic populations millet cultivated. Apart annual plants, following fruit trees grown: plums, peaches walnuts. Fruits many also gathered for consumption. Correlation analysis characters Prunus L. stones proved that development organ is conservative. Morphometric plum showed addition specimens belonging spinosa domestica /Prunus insititia L., there hybrids between these species. Multivariate analyses evidenced complexes cultivated plums cherries can form hybrid syngameons revealing continuous variation non-random structure. variability filbert nuts corresponded large modern population this composed genetically different morphotypes. Variabilities inter-specific units fossil contemporary forms various taxa described by ellipsoids shapes arrangements three-dimensional ordination space.