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An Ecological Life History of Tall Bluebell (Mertensia Arizonica var. Leonardi) in Utah
Author(s) -
Matthews Verl B.,
Conrad Paul W.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934495
Subject(s) - perennial plant , biology , forage , forb , agronomy , montane ecology , horticulture , pine barrens , botany , ecology , grassland
Tall bluebell (Mertensia arizonica Greene var. leonardi (Rydb.) Johnston) is a tall perennial forb that is distributed in the aspen and subalpine communities throughout the central chain of mountains in Utah. Stems emerge each year from dormant buds on a fleshy caudex. Stem elongation starts with snowmelt (late May to early June) and stops 8 weeks later. Rate of elongation is most rapid (up to 1.5 inches per day) midway in the growing period, and growth curves have a characteristic sigmoid shape. First flowering starts midway in the period of stem elongation and stops 2 weeks after stem elongation has ended. Seeds fall from plants 18—25 days after flowers are pollinated by insects. Seedlings appear the following June, at densities of 0.1—2.5/ft 2 , but nearly all seedlings die each year when surface soils dry out at midsummer. Surviving seedlings require a growing period of 2 or 3 years before flowering the first time. Once established, plants develop roots to a depth of 7 ft. Tall bluebell competes successfully with other species and may constitute over two thirds of the total ground cover. It produces up to 3,000 pounds (air—dry weight) of forage per acre. Sheep utilize up to 35% (July) and cattle up to 46% (July) of the herbage yield.