Studies on Dawsonia superba Grev. II. Growth rate

Abstract

The shoot growth of plants in two clumps of Dawsonia superba was monitored in conjunction with temperature, humidity and throughfall for one year. Growth was found in both cases to be strongly positively correlated with mean air temperature. In one clump a negative correlation with mean atmospheric water deficit was also found. Growth rates as high as 48 mm per year were obtained for the fastest growing plants. Average growth rates were 24 mm per year for Clump I and 15 mm per year for Clump 2.