The ecology of germination and reproduction of less frequent and vanishing species of the Czechoslovak flora II.Pulsatilla slavica Reuss

Abstract

The conditions of embryo development, of germination and sprouting in the speciesPulsatilla slavica (north Carpathian endemite) were ascertained. By studies of germination ecology ofPulsatilla slavica it was found that the development of the underdeveloped embryo and germination set in at about 10 °C to about 30 °C. Of the temperatures examined, the temperature of about 25 °C, and alternating ones, the temperature of 10/30 °C appeared to be the optima. At the temperature of 25 °C, the rate of loss of germination capacity was ascertained partly in fully ripe achenes, partly in achenes collected in the stage of wax-ripeness. After 39 weeks of room storage, 62.6% of fully ripe achenes and 32.6% of achenes collected in the stage of waxripeness germinated. The achenes sown after full ripeness in the middle of June sprouted in the middle of July, those sown at the beginning of October sprouted during the first decade of May, and those sown at the beginning of April sprouted during the, third decade of May-Pulsatilla slavica reproduces spontaneously only in the generative way, but it can also be propagated vegetatively by root cuttings.