Abstract
Seedling emergence in the field was earlier and occurred over a shorter period in Impatiens capensis than in the perennial species Eupatorium maculatum and Urtica dioica, both in shade and in full sunlight. The sequence of emergence was explained by differential response to temperature. Impatiens capensis had its maximum germination at temperatures as low as 5oC, but E. maculatum and U. dioica occurred only at higher temperatures. Germination of E. maculatum was greatly enhanced by temperatures cycling between 5 and 15oC. Growth rates of I. capensis were less suppressed by the low temperatures prevailing during seedling emergence than were those of E. maculatum and U. dioica. Urtica dioica grown from seed failed to become established in I. capensis stands, but previously established U. dioica plants, transplanted to I. capensis stands, grew and sometimes set seed. The mechanism for persistence of I. capensis includes development of a light-blocking canopy of even-aged individuals. -from Author
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 451-466 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Journal of Ecology |
Volume | 71 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1983 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Ecology
- Plant Science