Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand woody species Coprosma foetidissima, Freycinetia baueriana, Hoheria angustifolia, and Myrsine australis

Abstract

Germination rates, percentage germination success, and phenomena related to germination delay were examined for seeds from freshly collected fruit of the shrub Coprosma foetidissima, the vine Freycinetia baueriana, and the trees Hoheria angustifolia and Myrsine australis. The experimental conditions resembled those which seeds might experience after dispersal. Germination success was high (90–100%) for cleaned seeds of all species in moist, well-lit conditions.

Hoheria seeds germinated well and Myrsine seeds moderately well in the dark, but seeds of Coprosma germinated poorly. Freycinetia seeds failed to germinate in the dark but remained alive and germinated when subsequently placed in the light. Seeds of all species except Freycinetia germinated moderately to very well on soil. Seeds in the achene-like disseminules of Hoheria germinated freely but seeds of all other species in the in-fruit treatment failed to germinate or success was very low. All Myrsine seeds, but no or few seeds of the other species, germinated after being kept dry for several months. Seeds of Myrsine which were buried 5 cm below the soil surface germinated in two episodes, in successive spring seasons. Some Hoheria seeds germinated in this treatment, but the seedlings died underground. Buried Freycinetia seeds failed to germinate.

Coprosma, Hoheria, and Freycinetia are unlikely to form soil seed banks lasting more than a few months, but Myrsine could form seed banks of more than a year's duration.

Keywords:

• seeds
• germination
• high germinability
• dormancy
• seed banks