Sex ratio, flowering and fruit set in dioecious Rubus chamaemorus (Rosaceae) in Labrador

Abstract

Rubus chamaemorus L. is a dioecious clonal herb with highly variable fruit production. Our overall objective was to determine how fruit production (and the reproductive stages leading to fruit) for R. chamaemorus varied with habitat and population (especially sex ratio) characteristics at scales from 1 m2 quadrats to whole populations in southeastern Labrador, Canada. During the climatically favourable year studied, reproductive variables were only weakly correlated with habitat characteristics. Strongly biased sex ratios were found at scales of 1–10 m. Male-dominated quadrats exhibited a significantly higher proportion of flowering ramets than did female-dominated quadrats. Female-biased sex ratios of flowering ramets and large distances between male and female flowers were correlated with decreased seed set. We found no differences in microhabitats of males and females. Although the biased local sex ratios could limit sexual reproduction, the high fruit set we measured clearly indicates that populations are able to produce abundant fruit during favourable years in this unpredictable environment.