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Geigeria alata in the Namib desert: seed heteromorphism in an extremely arid environment
Author(s) -
Burke Antje
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3236345
Subject(s) - arid , seed dispersal , biological dispersal , biology , desert climate , botany , ecology , population , demography , sociology
. Seed heteromorphism in annual Geigeria alata in the Namib Desert was investigated in relation to environmental conditions. Geigeria alata shows heteromorphism in seed dispersal distance depending on the position of the seeds on the parent plant. Seeds produced in capitula on branches (aerial) travel long distances, while seeds produced at the base of the plant remain in the vicinity of the parent plant. The ratio of aerial to basal seed production was investigated under different environmental conditions following an aridity gradient. Although there were significant differences in seed and capitula production between seasons and between different positions on the plant, no overall trend was found with increasing aridity.