Abstract
On unstable gravel banks along the Thames River, seeds of Saponaria officinalis are dormant at maturity but many give rise to seedlings in the spring following production. The effects on seed dormancy of several environmental factors which would be experienced by the seeds during the winter were investigated. All seeds which remained submerged for 2 months or more germinated as soon as they were exposed to air and alternating temperatures in the spring. Scarification by moving gravel only promoted germination when combined with subsequent exposure to winter conditions. Only about half of the seeds which were not inundated germinated the next spring. Soaking, rather than low temperature, was shown to be the more important factor in overcoming seed coat dormancy.
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