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SEED SIZE AND HABITAT EFFECTS ON THE WATER‐DISPERSED PERENNIAL, CRINUM ERUBESCENS (AMARYLLIDACEAE)
Author(s) -
Manasse Robin S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1990.tb11385.x
Subject(s) - biology , habitat , germination , amaryllidaceae , mesophyte , herbaceous plant , perennial plant , swamp , agronomy , ecology , botany
Crinum erubescens (Amaryllidaceae), a water‐dispersed herbaceous perennial occupying the margin between land and freshwater lakes and swamps in Panama, produces seeds of highly variable size (0.1–66.5 g). Seeds were grown under conditions mimicking natural habitat types (water; saturated, undrained soil; moist, drained soil; and drained soil, saturated every third day) to determine whether either small or large seeds perform better in some habitats. Time to germination and percent germination are not related to seed size in any habitat type. Small seeds are less likely to survive in water, but not in other habitat types. Growth is positively associated with seed size in all habitat types and is greatest in saturated soil. Unlike studies with terrestrial plants, the benefits of having a large seed are demonstrated in the absence of competition.