GERMINATION AND EMERGENCE OF EUCALYPT SEED WHEN SOWN AT DEPTH

SUMMARY

Eucalypts sometimes scatter their seed while the capsules are retained on the tree. At other times the capsules fall to the ground intact, and the seed spills out of them in little heaps. Several specie were sown at various depths simulating these two conditions. The most promising young plants were obtained from seedlings that emerged from a soil cover of from 0.2 to 0.3 in. All species, whether sown scattered or in heaps, could push through half an inch of soil. E. globulus emerged from a soil cover of as much as 1.5 in. when germinating in heaps. The relationship between the results obtained and observations on seed germinating in the forest are discussed.