Aspen Bibliography

Germination of herbaceous plants common to aspen forests of western Colorado

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club

Volume

112

Issue

4

First Page

409

Last Page

413

Publication Date

1985

Abstract

hirteen plant species, common to aspen-dominated habitat types in western Colorado, were tested for germination requirements. Seeds of Agastache urticifolia, Bromus ciliatus, Elymus glaucus, Erigeron speciosus, Senecio serra, and Solidago spathulata were nondormant and germinated in most of the tests tried. Seeds of Delphinium barbeyi germinated after 60 days and 120 days stratification. Osmorhiza occidentalis, and Heracleum sphondylium germinated only after 120 days stratification. Seeds of Aster engelmannii, Erigeron elatior, Rudbeckia hirta, and Thalictrum fendleri germinated in about half the tests and stratification increased their rate of germination. Agastache urticifolia germinated consistently less in dark than in light. Erigeron speciosus, Senecio serra, Aster engelmannii, and Thalictrum fendleri germinated less in dark than in light without or after short periods of stratification; but they germinated more in dark than in light after long periods of stratification. The nondormant species Aster engelmannii and Thalictrum fendleri germinated best following 120 days stratification under a thermoperiod of 24⚬/2⚬C. Other nondormant species Agastache urticifolia, Solidago spathulata, and Erigeron elatior all germinated best without stratification in 16 hr light/8 hr dark under a thermoperiod of 24⚬/10⚬C. Agastache germinated equally well with no stratification in 13 hr light/11 hr dark and thermoperiod of 24⚬/2⚬C. The grasses Bromus ciliatus and Elymus glaucus germinated to high percentages in various tests including light, dark, with or without stratification, and all thermoperiods tested. Obviously this group of species, commonly occurring in aspen forests of western Colorado exhibits a range of germination requirements, some of which may have ecologic significance and others which may reflect adaptations that have little survival value at the present time.

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