Demography of Bassia indica in the Nile Delta region, Egypt

Abstract

Summary The present paper studies the demography and growth strategy of the summer annual Bassia indica W ight (old synonym: Kochia indica W ight ) under habitat and experimental conditions in the Nile Delta region, Egypt. Its population in saline lands has smaller individual size, lower density and higher mortality of seedlings than those in other less saline habitats, which indicates that this plant is not a true halophyte. It has two peaks of mortality: that in April (mainly due to the heavy deaths of the seedlings and juveniles) and the second in September (associated with the end of its life cycle). Its canopy development, in terms of leaf and branch production, and the size variables of the whole individual (height, diameter and volume) are density-dependent. The individuals are bigger and have more leaves under low than under high density. Density affected also the pattern of leaf distribution, length and number of branches, and internode length.