Germination and Establishment of Prostrate Spurge (Euphorbia supina)

Abstract

Germination of prostrate spurge (Euphorbia supinaRaf.) seeds collected in August, September, October, and November 1977 at Riverside, California was 53, 30, 18, and 16%, respectively. Stratification of seeds collected in August, September, and October at 5 C for 3 weeks or more increased germination to 70 to 80%. Prostrate spurge seeds germinated at constant temperatures of 20 to 40 C, with optimum temperatures of 25 to 30 C. Maximum germination occurred under alternating temperatures with a high temperature of 30 to 35 C and a low temperature of 15 to 25 C. Germination in the dark was much lower than in the light. Seedling establishment of seeds collected in August sown at 0.0- to 0.5-cm depths was 30 to 35%, but establishment from 2 cm declined to near 0%. Light intensity did not affect the number of seedlings established, but the seedlings established were larger under higher light intensities.