Abstract
Germination responses to multiple conditions related to fire, temperature and light were examined and
interpreted in relation to the environment of the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) forest and
the mediterranean-type climate of south-western Western Australia. Eight of the 16 selected
representatives required a boiling pre-treatment as a simulation of fire before subsequent germination
conditions were imposed. Trial conditions included a range of constant incubation temperatures and
either a constant dark or 12h light:12h dark illumination cycle. Species common to the understorey
tended to have narrow optima to temperature (13-18°C) with the greatest germination being achieved in
temperatures typical of winter. Eucalyptus calophylla, one of the canopy species, germinated over a
wider range of temperatures than the understorey species tested. Several species (e.g. Acacia pulchella
var. glaberrima, Calothamnus rupestris, Eucalyptus marginata, Trymalium ledifolium,
Xanthorrhoea gracilis and X. preissii) were not affected by the different light conditions at lower
incubation temperatures, but more seeds remained dormant under higher temperatures when exposed to
light. Most species, however, germinated best under continuously dark conditions, which related to
being buried under soil. Two species, Banksia grandis and Hakea amplexicaulis, showed much higher
germination under light exposure conditions compared to continuously dark conditions. These two
serotinous species are large seeded and their seed ecology favours large gap and soil surface
establishment. The multiple requirements of particular combinations of fire, temperature and light are
related to the ecology of these native Western Australian species.
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
61 articles.
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