Abstract
The germination requirements, dormancy cycle and longevity of nine Rumexspecies were studied in field conditions and laboratory experiments to show theadaptations of the related species to their specific habitat. Within one genus,rather striking differences were observed in germination ecology. However, theclosely related species, R. acetosa and R.scutatus, are very similar: they fruit in early summer; theirseeds can germinate immediately after dispersal, and they are nondormant andshort-lived. R. acetosella also has fruits insummer, but the seeds do not germinate the first season after dispersal. Theyare long-lived, but buried seeds do not show a dormancy cycle; they mightgerminate in different seasons after exposure to light. Seeds of four species (R. conglomeratus,R. maritimus, R. sanguineus andR. crispus) are long-lived and undergo aseasonal dormancy cycle, with a low level of dormancy in winter and early springand a deep dormancy in summer as was already known for R.obtusifolius. These seeds are shed in the autumn, and they germinatemainly in the spring in consecutive years. R. maritimusalso germinates in summer and autumn on drying muddy soils. The seeds of R. hydrolapathum only germinate onwaterlogged soils, which explains its growth at the edge of streams and ponds.Its seeds are rather short-lived. The seeds of the species on very wetplaces require a higher temperature for germination.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bakker J.P., Poschlod P., Strykstra R.J., Bekker R.M. and Thompson K. 1996. Seed banks and seed dispersal: important topics in restoration ecology. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 45: 461-490.
Baskin J.M. and Baskin C.C. 1985a. Does seed dormancy play a role in the germination ecology of Rumex crispus ? Weed Science 33: 340-343.
Baskin J.M. and Baskin C.C. 1985b. The annual dormancy cycle in buried weed seeds: a continuum. Bioscience 35: 492-498.
Baskin C.C. and Baskin J.M. 1988. Germination ecophysiology of herbaceous plant species in a temperate region. American Journal of Botany 75: 286-305.
Baskin C.C. and Baskin J.M. 1998. Seeds. Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination. Academic Press, New York.
Cavers P.B. and Harper J.L. 1966. Germination polymorphism in Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius. Journal of Ecology 54: 367-382.
Darlington H.T. and Steinbauer G.P. 1961. The eigthy-year period for Dr Beal's seed viability experiment. American Journal of Botany 48: 321-325.
Ellenberg H. 1978. Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. 2nd edn. Ulmer, Stuttgart.
Gambi O.V. 1966. Influence of light and temperature on the germination of some Rumex seeds. Webbia 21: 461-474.
Granström A. 1987. Seed viability of fourteen species during five years of storage in a forest soil. Journal of Ecology 75: 321-331.
Grime J.P., Mason G., Curtis A.V., Rodman J., Band S.R., Mowforth M.A.G. et al. 1981. A comparative study of germination characteristics in a local flora. Journal of Ecology 69: 1017-1059.
Grime J.P., Hodgson J.G. and Hunt R. 1988. Comparative Plant Ecology. Unwin Hyman, London.
Grubb P.J. 1977. The maintenance of species-richness in plant communities: the importance of the regeneration niche. Biological Review 52: 107-145.
Harper J.L. 1977. Population biology of Plants. Academic Press, New York.
Hendry G.A.F. 1993. Oxygen, free radical processes and seed longevity. Seed Science Research 3: 141-153.
Hendry G.A.F., Thompson K., Moss C.J., Edwards E. and Thorpe P.C. 1994. Seed persistance: a correlation between seed longevity in the soil and orthodihydroxyphenol concentration. Functional Ecology 8: 658-664.
Lewis J. 1973. Longevity of crop and weed seeds: survival after 20 years in soil. Weed Research 13: 179-191.
Milberg P., Anderson L. and Noronha A. 1996. Seed germination after short-duration light exposure: implications for the photo-control of weeds. Journal of Applied Ecology 33: 1469-1478.
Noronha A., Anderson L. and Milberg P. 1997. Rate of change in dormancy level and light requirement in weed seeds during stratification. Annals of Botany 80: 795-801.
Roberts H.A. and Neilson J.E. 1980. Seed survival and periodicity of seedling emergence in some species of Atriplex, Cheno-podium, Polygonum and Rumex. Annals of Applied Biology 94: 111-120.
Roberts H. and Totterdell S. 1981. Seed dormancy in Rumex species in response to environmental factors. Plant, Cell and Environment 4: 97-106.
Roberts H.A. and Boddrell J.E. 1985. Seed survival and seasonal emergence in some species of Geranium, Ranunculus and Rumex. Annals of Applied Biology 107: 231-238.
Schütz W. 1998. Seed dormancy cycles and germination phenologies in sedges (Carex) from various habitats. Wetlands 18: 288-297.
Schütz W. and Rave G. 1999. The effect of cold stratification and light on the seed germination of temperate sedges (Carex) from various habitats and implications for regenerative strategies. Plant Ecology 144: 215-230.
Thompson K. and Grime J.P. 1983. A comparative study of germination responses to diurnally-fluctuating temperatures. Journal of Applied Ecology 20: 141-156.
Thompson K., Band S.R. and Hodgson J.G. 1993. Seed size and shape predict persistence in soil. Functional Ecology 7: 236-241.
Toole E.H. and Brown E. 1946. Final results of the Duvel buried seed experiment. Journal of Agricultural Research 72: 201-210.
Totterdell S. and Roberts E.H. 1979. Effects of low temperatures on the loss of innate dormancy and the development of induced dormancy in seeds of Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L. Plant, Cell and Environment 2: 131-137.
Totterdell S. and Roberts E.H. 1980. Characteristics of alternating temperatures which stimulate loss of dormancy in seeds of Rumex obtusifolius L. and Rumex crispus L. Plant, Cell and Environment 3: 3-12.
Van Assche J.A. and Vanlerberghe K.A. 1989. The role of temperature on the dormancy cycle of seeds of Rumex obtusifolius L. Functional Ecology 3: 107-115.
Van Assche J.A. and Van Nerum D.M. 1997. The influence of the rate of temperature change on the activation of dormant seeds of Rumex obtusifolius L. Functional Ecology 11: 729-734.
Vleeshouwers L.M., Bouwmeester H.J. and Karssen C.M. 1995. Redefining seed dormancy: an attempt to integrate physiology and ecology. Journal of Ecology 83: 1031-1037.
Voesenek L.A.C.J. and Blom C.W.P.M. 1992. Germination and emergence of Rumex in river flood-plains. I. Timing of germi-nation and seedbank characteristics. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 41: 319-329.
Wesson G. and Wareing P.F. 1969. The induction of light sensitivity in weed seeds by burial. Journal of Experimental Botany 20: 414-425.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Van Assche, J., Van Nerum, D. & Darius, P. The comparative germination ecology of nine Rumex species. Plant Ecology 159, 131–142 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015553905110
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015553905110