Spatiotemporal patterns of shoots within an isolated Miscanthus sinensis patch in the warm‐temperate region of Japan

Abstract

The shoot configuration of each monoclonal patch of phalanx‐forming tallgrass, Miscanthus sinensis, is characterized by the formation of a ‘fairy ring’, which forms as the result of developing vacant inner areas. One large‐sized M. sinensis patch (patch L), observed over a 9‐year survey period, underwent lateral expansion in almost all directions as a result of peripheral shoot births. In the year after the shoots in each part of patch L reached a maximum density (Dmax), the number of shoots decreased by approximately 20% per year. However, the overall number of within‐patch shoots was stable during the survey because the patch area increased at the periphery. Twelve patches (>900 cm2 in area) with orthotropic shoots were selected to observe the distribution pattern of within‐patch shoots, and the patch areas were divided into three parts: the exterior, intermediate and interior areas. In 10 of these 12 patches, shoot densities were lowest in the interior areas and highest in the exterior areas, which led to ring formation. The shoot density of each subarea was inversely related to the age of the subarea. This raises the possibility that in any part of these patches, shoot densities decrease annually from Dmax in a similar way.

Ontogenetic changes in accumulation of rhizomes in monoclonal patch of Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. in warm temperate region of Japan

“…1 and 4, the ratio of N current (N shoot ) to A was negatively related to patch age (\9 years), as was also observed by Kobayashi and Yokoi (2001). From Eq.…”

“…However, the inner parts of some aged patches had shoots that extended outward-plagiotropically, allowing sunlight to stream in (K. Kobayashi, personal observation). In such inner parts, new shoots emerged frequently (Kobayashi 1982;Kobayashi and Yokoi 2003a).…”

“…An M. sinensis patch annually expands laterally, and typically develops its hollow center (inner parts vacant of shoots) stocked with long-lived rhizomes (Kobayashi and Yokoi 2001), although some aged patches do not appear to have hollow centers (Kobayashi and Yokoi 2003a). In a warm climate, such a patch discontinues its areal expansion at an early time (Kobayashi 1992), leaving the dense rhizome system that has developed thus far, and senesces (Kobayashi and Yokoi 2001). In contrast, some clonal herbs have a much longer lifetime and occupy larger areas than M. sinensis clones (Cook 1983(Cook , 1985.…”

Novel Endophytic Nitrogen-Fixing Clostridia from the Grass Miscanthus sinensis as Revealed by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

“…M. sinensis is a rhizomatous, perennial grass that naturally dominates almost all of the tallgrass-type meadows and wastelands in Japan (13). The plant often grows as a pioneer plant in areas devastated by lahar from volcanic eruptions; in these areas the nitrogen content of the soil is very low.…”

Management-mediated facilitation: Miscanthus sinensis functions as a nurse plant in Satoyama grassland

“…Miscanthus sinensis-dominated semi-natural grasslands are one component of typical Satoyama landscapes, which have long been developed and maintained by human management (Yasuda and Programme 2001). M. sinensis is a clonal perennial plant that forms ''fairy-ring'' patches (hereafter called M. sinensis patches or inside patches) after central dieback (Kobayashi and Yokoi 2003). Due to this dieback, the shoot density of M. sinensis decreases with increasing patch size (Tsuyuzaki 2005).…”