Abstract
<p>This paper presents the structure of developmental stages and the age structure of <em>Convallaria majalis</em> L. populations. The investigation material consisted of individuals and modules from populations in <em>Betulo-Quercetum</em>, <em>Fago-Quercetum</em>, <em>Melico-Fagetum</em> and <em>Tilio-Carpinetum</em>, in which the leaves and inflorescence of <em>C. majalis</em> were cut annually over a period of three years.</p><p>Fifty percent of the <em>C. majalis</em> regional population consisted of mature modules, 20% of juvenile modules, 25% of senile modules and a very small percentage of generative modules. In populations of <em>Fago-Quercetum</em> there are four times more senile modules than juvenile modules, while in <em>Melico-Fagetum</em> the percentage of juvenile modules is four times more numerous than the percentage of senile modules. The average age of modules is 4.7±3.8 years. Three year old individuals dominate in the population, while 10 year or older individuals are very rare.</p><p>In the population disturbed by the three raw material collections, the percentage of juvenile modules was decreased by 50% and the percentage of generative modules was nonexistent. As a result, the average module age is higher than in the undisturbed population. Cutting leaves and inflorescence is an important factor in limiting the recruitment of juvenile modules. The growth of individuals in the disturbed population occurs among older modules, which were able to reproduce before the disturbance occurred. Young individuals (three to four years old) are less numerous in the disturbed population, and the majority of individuals are three to six years old.</p>
Highlights
Investigations of the age structure in perennial plant populations have been carried out frequently (Rabotnov 1969; Symonides 1979; Stasiak 1994; Czarnecka 1996; Faliñska 1997; Stoll et al 1998)
Fifty-one percent of the regional population consists of mature modules, 20% of juvenile modules, 26% of senile modules and very few (3%) generative modules
Coenopopulations vary in their numbers of juvenile, subsenile and senile modules, e.g. there are three times more old modules than young ones in Betulo-Quercetum and four times more in Fago-Quercetum
Summary
Investigations of the age structure in perennial plant populations have been carried out frequently (Rabotnov 1969; Symonides 1979; Stasiak 1994; Czarnecka 1996; Faliñska 1997; Stoll et al 1998). The dependence of age structure on the dynamics of population abundance and the size structure of individuals has been described. In Poland, it is harvested from both plantations and naturally occurring populations. For this reason, this species is under partial preservation. It has been proven through simulated raw material collection, that harvesting C. majalis negatively impacts the density and crops in subsequent years, the cardenolide content, size and fertility (Kosiñski 1996, 2001)
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