The germination characteristics of seeds from Lychnis viscaria L. (Viscaria vulgaris Bernh.), Potentilla rupestris L. and Veronica spicata L.

Whittington, W. J.; Wilson, G. B.; Humphries, R. N.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1988.tb03727.x

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Veronica seeds need light for germination (Whittington et al 1988), which explains the low emergence in thick moss. In contrast to the emergence of Arenaria, seedling emergence of Veronica was slightly higher in thin moss than on bare soil (Fig.…”

Section: Effect Of Bryophyte Cover On Seedling Emergencementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of bryophytes and lichens on seedling emergence of alvar plants: evidence from greenhouse experiments

Zamfir¹

2000

Oikos

122

108

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Emergence of seedlings of four alvar grassland species (Arenaria serpyllifolia, Festuca ovina, Filipendula vulgaris and Veronica spicata) in bryophyte and lichen carpets was analysed in a series of greenhouse experiments. The aspects investigated were: the influence of thickness of moss mats, both in dry and moist conditions, the effects of thick Cladonia spp. clumps, and of living vs dead moss shoots and lichen podetia. Overall, Festuca seedlings emerged best whereas the small‐seeded species, Arenaria and Veronica , had the lowest emergence. Moisture had a significant effect only on the emergence of Festuca seedlings, which emerged better in the dry treatment than in the moist. A thick moss cover negatively affected seedling emergence of Arenaria and Veronica but did not affect the emergence of Festuca. Filipendula showed lower seedling emergence in both thick and thin moss than on bare soil only in the dry treatment, whereas in the moist treatment emergence did not differ among the three substrates. Arenaria seedlings emerged less in thick and thin moss than on bare soil in the dry treatment, whereas in the moist treatment emergence in the thin moss was not different from bare soil. Thus, in relatively dry environments even a thin moss cover may inhibit rather than facilitate seedling emergence. The lichen clumps inhibited only the emergence of the forbs. Both living moss shoots and lichen podetia inhibited emergence of Veronica seedlings but did not affect Festuca. In contrast, emergence in the presence of dead mosses and lichens did not differ from emergence in their absence for both species. Hence, inhibition of seedling emergence by bryophytes and lichens of at least some vascular plant species may be mediated by some biotic factor. However, the effect of differences in substrate properties on germination cannot be excluded

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Section: Effect Of Bryophyte Cover On Seedling Emergencementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of bryophytes and lichens on seedling emergence of alvar plants: evidence from greenhouse experiments

Zamfir¹

2000

Oikos

122

108

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“…This suggests a general disadvantage of small‐seeded species, not directly related to shading (Jakobsson & Eriksson, ), but with complete lack of germination, it is likely that these species’ require more suitable conditions for their germination (see Appendix ). For example, Lychnis viscaria often requires bare soil for germination success (Whittington, Wilson, & Humphries, ) (which we did not provide in order to mimic natural field conditions as much as possible) and Hypericum perforatum shows large variation in germination success depending on site properties (Pérez‐García et al., ). Hence, the simulated natural conditions in the seed sowing experiment limit the interpretation of our results, but also exemplify one challenge with field experiments, and a reason why they may not provide similar results as greenhouse experiments (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests a general disadvantage of small-seeded species, not directly related to shading (Jakobsson & Eriksson, 2000), but with complete lack of germination, it is likely that these species' require more suitable conditions for their germination (see Appendix S2). For example, Lychnis viscaria often requires bare soil for germination success (Whittington, Wilson, & Humphries, 1988) (which we did not provide in order to mimic natural field conditions as much as possible) and…”

Section: Seed Sowing Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the effects of pasture trees on plant community patterns

Jakobsson

Plue

Cousins

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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Questions We aim to answer three questions: (a) what are the effects of canopy shading of different tree species on seed germination of eight understorey grassland species? (b) how is plant species’ occurrence in understorey communities affected by differences in canopy cover and does that depend on tree species composition? and (c) are there mechanistic links between the effects of trees on species’ germination and their occurrence in the understorey plant community? Location Semi‐natural wooded pastures in the biosphere reserve Östra Vätterbranterna, southern Sweden. Methods In this study, we examined the germination of eight grassland plant species in a seed sowing experiment under natural conditions in the field. Seeds were sown beneath and outside the canopy of two tree species within 48 plots split up by four wooded pasture sites. We combined observed germination responses with a plant community survey to assess the effects of canopy cover in relation to tree species composition on plant community responses. We analysed these data in relation to species’ seed mass and vegetative shade tolerance. Results Shade‐tolerant species germinated better beneath compared to outside tree canopies, without any clear advantage of large‐seeded over small‐seeded species. As expected, species’ shade tolerance was also positively related to canopy cover within the understorey plant community. Importantly, we found strong tree species‐specific effects of canopy shading on the species’ germination response, but not on their presence within the plant community. However, optimal canopy cover conditions for germination and for the mature plants differed across grassland species and depended on tree species. Conclusions Our results show that different tree species play key ecosystem engineering roles in shaping wooded grassland plant community composition at the germination stage. Management practices favouring specific tree species may therefore be highly relevant for targeted biodiversity conservation of wooded semi‐natural grasslands.

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“…Whittington et al . (1988), in agreement with the results of Pring (1958), found that when unimbibed seeds were buried (5 mm), only 3% emergence had occurred after 16 days, which is a similar result to that recorded for dark‐grown seeds in Petri dishes.…”

Section: Floral and Seed Charactersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Veronica spicata L. ssp. spicata and ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin (Pseudolysimachium spicatum (L.) Opiz)

Wilson¹,

Houston

Whittington

et al. 2000

Journal of Ecology

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The germination characteristics of seeds from Lychnis viscaria L. (Viscaria vulgaris Bernh.), Potentilla rupestris L. and Veronica spicata L.

Cited by 9 publications

References 5 publications

Effects of bryophytes and lichens on seedling emergence of alvar plants: evidence from greenhouse experiments

Effects of bryophytes and lichens on seedling emergence of alvar plants: evidence from greenhouse experiments

Exploring the effects of pasture trees on plant community patterns

Veronica spicata L. ssp. spicata and ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin (Pseudolysimachium spicatum (L.) Opiz)

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