ABSTRACT Capparis spinosa (L.) Mill. subsp. rupestris (Sm.) Nyman is a typical rupicolous plant ofthe Mediterranean region. The fruit is an ovoid berry blooming, when ripe, with a longitudinal fissure ofthe exocarp on the dorsal side. Seeds are small, kidney-shaped and dark brown, and are embedded in a white juicy pulp. Fruits are eaten by several animals such as lizards, birds and mice whose droppings enable seed dispersal. Normally lìttle ants remove the pulp from the seeds which remain inside the exocarp for 2 to 7 days. Both seeds from the exocarp and from animaI droppings are carried into the cracks of the rocks by bigger ants. During the summer seeds break physiological dormancy, and germination percentage reaches 98% from February to ApriI, as record ed after testing. Germination tests were carried out under laboratory and field conditions, suggesting that the breaking of seed dormancy is under light control.
Germination ecology of Capparis spinosa L. subsp.rupestris (Sm.) Nyman
FORTE L;CAVALLARO, Viviana;
2008-01-01
Abstract
ABSTRACT Capparis spinosa (L.) Mill. subsp. rupestris (Sm.) Nyman is a typical rupicolous plant ofthe Mediterranean region. The fruit is an ovoid berry blooming, when ripe, with a longitudinal fissure ofthe exocarp on the dorsal side. Seeds are small, kidney-shaped and dark brown, and are embedded in a white juicy pulp. Fruits are eaten by several animals such as lizards, birds and mice whose droppings enable seed dispersal. Normally lìttle ants remove the pulp from the seeds which remain inside the exocarp for 2 to 7 days. Both seeds from the exocarp and from animaI droppings are carried into the cracks of the rocks by bigger ants. During the summer seeds break physiological dormancy, and germination percentage reaches 98% from February to ApriI, as record ed after testing. Germination tests were carried out under laboratory and field conditions, suggesting that the breaking of seed dormancy is under light control.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
