In:
Australian Journal of Botany, CSIRO Publishing, Vol. 45, No. 6 ( 1997), p. 1055-
Abstract:
A range of diaspore and mature plant attributes of the species represented in
the germinable seed bank of a semi-arid subtropical Queensland sheep rangeland was investigated. The attributes of both the diaspores themselves and the
plants that produced them changed as distance from water increased. Close to the water source, species with prostrate or erect growth habit and with low
palatability and capsular fruits were common, whereas further from the water source plants with ascending growth habits, high palatability and mericarpic
fruits were more frequent. At close proximity to water, species with diaspores that germinated rapidly, were unornamented, with unassisted dispersal and
rounded in shape were common, whereas at greater distance from water, species tended to possess diaspores which germinated slowly, were ornamented
(possessed awns, barbs, or hairs), with an elongated shape. Longevity of the plants (annual or perennial) was not significantly affected by distance from
water. The dormant, vegetative and reproductive phases of plants that are
successfully incorporated into the germinable soil seed bank can, therefore, be related to success under the different stocking intensities present at
different distances from water.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0067-1924
Language:
English
Publisher:
CSIRO Publishing
Publication Date:
1997
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1496155-6
SSG:
12
