Hypochaeris Radicata Research Articles

친환경농자재 개발을 위한 서양금혼초 (Hypochaeris radicata L.)의 알레로패시 효과

친환경농자재 개발을 위한 서양금혼초 (Hypochaeris radicata L.)의 알레로패시 효과

Hypochoeris radicata attenuates LPS-induced inflammation by suppressing p38, ERK, and JNK phosphorylation in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Hypochoeris radicata, an invasive plant species, is a large and growing threat to ecosystem integrity on Jeju Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Therefore, research into the utilization of H. radicata is important and urgently required in order to solve this invasive plant problem in Jeju Island. The broader aim of our research is to elucidate the biological activities of H. radicata, which would facilitate the conversion of this invasive species into high value-added products. The present study was undertaken to identify the pharmacological effects of H. radicata flower on the production of inflammatory mediators in macrophages. The results indicate that the ethyl acetate fraction of H. radicata extract (HRF-EA) inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory molecules such as NO, iNOS, PGE2, and COX-2, and cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as p38, ERK, and JNK was suppressed by HRF-EA in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, through HPLC and UPLC fingerprinting, luteolins were also identified and quantified as extract constituents. On the basis of these results, we suggest that H. radicata may be considered possible anti-inflammatory candidates for pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic applications.

Neighborhood‐contingent indirect interactions between native and exotic plants: multiple shared pollinators mediate reproductive success during invasions

Native and exotic plants can influence one another's fecundity through their influence on shared pollinators. Specifically, invasion may alter abundance and composition of local floral resources, affecting pollinator visitation and ultimately causing seedset of natives in more‐invaded and less‐invaded floral neighborhoods to differ. Such pollinator‐mediated effects of exotic plants on natives are common, but native and exotic plants often share multiple pollinators, which may differ in their responses to altered floral neighborhoods. We quantified pollinator‐mediated interactions between three common forbs of western Washington prairies (native Microseris laciniata and Eriophyllum lanatum and European Hypochaeris radicata) in three floral neighborhoods: 1) high native and low exotic floral density, 2) high exotic floral density and low native density, and 3) experimentally manipulated low exotic floral density. Pollinator visitation rates varied by floral neighborhood, plant species identity, and their interaction for all three plant species. Similarly, pollinator functional groups (eusocial bees, solitary bees, and syrphid flies) contributed differing proportions of total visitation to each species depending upon neighborhood context. Consequently, in exotic neighborhoods H. radicata competed with native M. laciniata, reducing seed set, while simultaneously facilitating visitation and seed set for native E. lanatum. Seed set of H. radicata was also highest in exotic neighborhoods (with high densities of conspecifics), raising the possibility of a positive feedback between exotic abundance and success. Our results suggest that the outcome of indirect interactions between native and exotic plants depends on the density and the composition of the floral neighborhood and of the pollinator fauna, and on context‐dependent pollinator foraging.

Fitocenozy Spergulo morisonii-Corynephoretum canescentis na Pojezierzu Mazurskim [Phytocoenoses of Spergulo morisonii-Corynephoretum in Mazurian Lakeland

The study contains a characterization of psammophilous grasslands on Mazurian Lakeland. Field research was carried out in 29 localities in which 596 phytosociological relevs were collected. As a consequence of numerical classification according to the TWINSPAN program, the occurrence of association <em>Spergulo-Corynephoretum</em> R. Tx. ex K. Czyżewska 1992 was proved. Within the association the following syntaxa were distinguished: subass.<em> typicum</em> and variants with <em>Hypochoeris radicata</em>, with <em>Artemisia campestris</em> ssp. <em>campestris and typicum</em>, subass. <em>cladinetosum mitis</em>, R. Tx. (1928) 1937 em. K. Czyżewska 1992 and variants typicum and with <em>Polytrichum piliferum</em>, subass. <em>thymetosum serpylli</em> K. Czyżewska 1992 and variants with <em>Cladina mitis</em> and with <em>Festuca ovina</em>, subass. <em>festucetosum ovinae</em> Krausch 1968 and variants <em>typicum</em> and with <em>Agrostis capillaris</em>, subxerothermical form and community with <em>Cytisus scoparius</em>.

Quantifying and comparing intraspecific functional trait variability: a case study with Hypochaeris radicata

Summary The importance of intraspecific trait variation is increasingly recognized, but the ways in which this variation is quantified and compared have not been rigorously assessed. We reviewed 5 years of ecological literature quantifying intraspecific variation (64 published studies) and identified commonly applied statistical methods. Analysis of variance techniques (n = 43) was the most commonly applied method. Levene's tests (n = 14), linear techniques (both general and generalized models) (n = 12) and mixed effects modelling (n = 9) were also used. Qualitative comparisons of plant phenotype using descriptive statistics (n = 10) and coefficients of variation (n = 8) were also applied. Bayesian analysis was used in a single study. We compared the efficacy and interpretation of analysis of variance, tests for homogeneity of variance, qualitative comparisons, mixed effects models and Bayesian hierarchical modelling in a case study measuring variation in specific leaf area (SLA) and rosette diameter among 10 populations (n = 241 individuals) of Hypochaeris radicata. We also examined whether data base‐ and literature‐based trait values provided good estimates for measured populations. Intraspecific variation was substantial, and significant differences existed in both means and variation across populations for both measured traits. There was a 27‐fold variation in SLA (1·7–46·1 mm2 mg−1) and a 34‐fold variation in rosette diameter (1·7–59·1 cm). The choice of statistical technique influenced the interpretation of results. Permutational anova was reasonably successful in detecting differences among populations, particularly when combined with a permutational test of dispersion within populations. Only Bayesian estimates were able to simultaneously quantify and compare variation within and across populations and to estimate trait values and variation on a larger, regional scale. Literature‐based trait values had poor fit for four of 10 populations and differed from the estimated regional trait distribution. Synthesis. Although both classical and Bayesian techniques yielded similar results, Bayesian techniques were more sensitive to differences in intraspecific variation, could simultaneously examine variation within and across populations, could estimate regional trait distributions and did not require that the assumption of homogeneity of variance be met. Bayesian techniques and hierarchical models in particular represent a powerful analytical tool for studies of intraspecific variation.

Mining the brain metabolome to understand behavioural disruptions induced in mouse fed Hypochoeris radicata (L.), a neurotoxic plant for horse

Mining the brain metabolome to understand behavioural disruptions induced in mouse fed Hypochoeris radicata (L.), a neurotoxic plant for horse.C57BL/6J mice orally exposed to 9% H. radicata (HR) are metabolically competent laboratory animals which can be used as model of Australian stringhalt, a neurological horse disease induced by HR ingestion. So, the present study was conducted to assess the brain metabolome and the behavioural performances of mice fed with a 9%-HR-based diet for 21 days. By the end of the period of exposure, mice were investigated for motor activity and coordination, anxiety level, learning and memory performances, social behaviour and rewarding properties of for the plant. Thus, the animals were sacrificed and the brain metabolome was studied using 1H NMR spectroscopy. HR-exposed mice displayed a motor hyperactivity in several tasks, a less resignation in the forced swimming test, and paradigm place preference for the plant. A bootstrap-based regularized canonical analysis performed on merged behavioural and metabolic datasets showed a clear relationship in HR-treated mice between an increase in cerebral scyllo-inositol, an increased motor activity, and seemingly rewarding properties of HR. These results underlie the interest of such a dual approach to characterize functional end-points of a pathophysiological model of the Australian stringhalt in equine species.

Cytotoxic activity of extracts from Hypochaeris radicata

Pasture-associated stringhalt is an acquired equine disease characterized by peripheral neuropathy and hyperflexion of the pelvic limbs. The disease occurs most commonly during periods of drought in horses grazing pastures heavily contaminated by Hypochaeris radicata. We hypothesized that stringhalt is caused by neurotoxins elaborated by H. radicata in response to the stress of drought conditions. Supernates were collected from H. radicata that were stressed (or not) by immersion in copper chloride solution, then extracted with ethyl acetate and dried. Dilutions of extracts from stressed (SE) and control, unstressed (UE) plants were incubated with myelinating spinal cord cultures (MSCC) established from fetal Swiss mice, and with spinal ganglion cultures (SGC) and dermal fibroblast cultures derived from neonatal mouse tissues. Cytotoxicity in culture monolayers was evaluated both morphologically by microscopy and by release of lactate dehydrogenase activity into culture supernates. Three different SGC preparations were exposed to a single H. radicata extract and single preparations of fibroblasts and MSCC were exposed to three different extracts. Repin, a plant-derived sesquiterpene lactone neurotoxin, was included as a positive control. Significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity was seen within 24 h in all three culture types when incubated with SE or repin. Complete morphologic destruction of culture monolayers was induced by the highest concentrations tested of SE (100 μg/mL) and repin (30 μg/mL). Cytotoxic effect of SE was significantly greater than that of UE for all three cell types and was not due to copper contamination of the extract. This study has identified a cytotoxic activity in leaf exudates of H. radicata that was upregulated by the model stressor, copper chloride.

Mining the brain metabolome to understand behavioural disruptions induced in mouse fed Hypochoeris radicata (L.), a neurotoxic plant for horse

Mining the brain metabolome to understand behavioural disruptions induced in mouse fed Hypochoeris radicata (L.), a neurotoxic plant for horse

Seasonal carbon allocation to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi assessed by microscopic examination, stable isotope probing and fatty acid analysis

Climate change models are limited by lack of baseline data, in particular carbon (C) allocation to – and dynamics within – soil microbial communities. We quantified seasonal C-assimilation and allocation by plants, and assessed how well this corresponds with intraradical arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) storage and structural lipids (16:1ω5 NLFA and PLFA, respectively), as well as microscopic assessments of AMF root colonization. Coastal Hypochoeris radicata plants were labeled with 13CO2 in February, July and October, and 13C-allocation to fine roots and NLFA 16:1ω5, as well as overall lipid contents and AM colonization were quantified. C-allocation to fine roots and AMF storage lipids differed seasonally and mirrored plant C-assimilation, whereas AMF structural lipids and AM colonization showed no seasonal variation, and root colonization exceeded 80 % throughout the year. Molecular analyzes of the large subunit rDNA gene indicated no seasonal AMF community shifts. Plants allocated C to AMF even at temperatures close to freezing, and fungal structures persisted in roots during times of low C-allocation. The lack of seasonal differences in PLFA and AM colonization indicates that NLFA analyses should be used to estimate fungal C-status. The implication of our findings for AM function is discussed.

Screening of in vitro antioxidant activity of methanolic leaf and root extracts of Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae)

The aim of present study was to estimate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and to investigate in vitro antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf and root extracts of the herb, Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae). Antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH • ) assay, reducing power activity, [2,2’-azino-bis(3ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] ABTS •+ assay and ferrous ion chelating activity. Here, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid (ASA), trolox and EDTA were used as standard antioxidants. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined and expressed in gallic acid and quercetin equivalent respectively. The results of the study indicate that the methanolic extracts of the leaf and root of H. radicata posses significant scavenging activity against DPPH • (97.99% for leaf and 96.44% for root at 250μg/ml each) and ferrous ions chelating activity (38.69% for leaf and 40.52% for root at 5000μg/ml each), reducing power activity (1.38 absorbance at 600µg/ml for leaf, 0.45 absorbance at 700 µg/ml for root) and free radical scavenging activity (ABTS •+ ) (2706.73 for leaf and 2028.37μmol for root TE/g). The free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities may be attributed to the presence of adequate phenolic (gallic acid content is 125.5µg/10mg in leaf and 133.06µg/10mg in root) and flavonoid compounds (105.76µg/2mg in leaf and 55.16µg/2mg in root). This study revealed that the methanolic extracts of both leaf and root of H. radicata has demonstrated significant antioxidant activity.

북한산국립공원의 귀화식물 분포특성

The survey on naturalized plants of Bukhansan National Park was carried out in 8 regions from September 2010 to August 2011. The naturalized plants in Bukhansan Nataional Park were listed 74 taxa composed of 18 families, 72 species and 2 varieties, and shown as 27.3% in pattern of urbanization index. According to types of families, Compositae family covered 27 taxa (36.5%), Gramineae families had 9 taxa (12.3%), and Polygonaceae and Leguminosae family were 6 taxa (8.1%). In life form spectrum, annual plants ratio was investigated 28 taxa (37.8%) that is occupied in higher ratio. The perennial plants were 26 taxa (35.1%), biennial plants 17 taxa (23.0%), tree plants 3 taxa (4.1%) in the order. Naturalized degree 3 plants were founded as 40.5% that is distributed in highest degree. Next, naturalized degree 5 plants (37.8%), naturalized degree 2 plants(12.2%), naturalized degree 4 plants (8.1%), naturalized degree 1 plants (1.4%) were in the order. According to analysis results form place of origin and introduction periods, Europe covered 36.5%, introduction period 1 covered 52.7%, and period 3 (32.4%), and period 2 (14.9%) were shown. The wild plants disturbing ecosystem were reported 6 taxa including Rumex acetocella, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Eupatorium rugosum, Aster pilosus, and Hypochoeris radicata in suvay field. Therefore, monitoring about ecological characteristics of introduction naturalized plants, is required in systematical management counterplan of naturalized plants.

Responses of Native and Introduced Plant Species to Sucrose Addition in Puget Lowland Prairies

Nitrogen enrichment has often been demonstrated to enhance the success of introduced plant species at the expense of native species. In the south Puget lowland prairies of Washington State, invasion by Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), a nitrogenfixing legume, is associated with elevated soil nitrogen levels. After broom removal, the higher soil nitrogen levels may have facilitated the secondary invasion of the prairies by numerous non-native species, particularly rhizomatous pasture grasses that can interfere with native plant seedling establishment. Numerous studies have shown the potential for carbon addition to immobilize soil nitrogen and reduce the success of introduced species relative to native species. We compared the available soil nitrate, the cover of native and introduced species between sugar-addition (1000 g C m-2) and control plots on two Puget lowland prairies. Sugar treatment initially immobilized nitrate and reduced cover of introduced species compared to that on control plots, but these effects dissipated within two years. Moreover, after four years, cover of introduced species, especially that of Agrostis capillaris and Hypochaeris radicata, had rebounded to become higher in sugar-addition than in control plots. In contrast, native species showed no negative responses to sugar treatment, suggesting that where sugar or other carbon treatment is economically feasible, combining carbon with the establishment of a high density of native species might limit the potential for introduced species to rebound.

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Plant Species Indigenous to a Contaminated Portuguese Site: Prospects for Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is a promising alternative to conventional soil clean-up methods; however, up to date, there is still not enough information on plant species suitable for application in this field of science. Therefore, plant screening on contaminated sites can lead to the identification of further species of interest. In the present study, pedological and botanical characteristics of an industrialised area known for its metal contamination, in special with Zn—Esteiro de Estarreja, in Portugal—were examined in a 1-year screening. Twenty-seven species were found, with a higher occurrence and variability in the summer/spring season. Zinc levels in the tissues of the collected plant samples ranged from 34 mg kg−1 in shoots to 2,440 mg kg−1 in roots of different species. Species as Verbascum virgatum, Hypochoeris radicata, Phalaris arundinacea, Conyza bilbaoana, Paspalum urvillei and Aster squamatus have shown high Zn shoot accumulation and bioconcentration factors (BCFshoots > 1) and high metal translocation factors (TF > 1). Others, namely Spergularia capillacea, excluded Zn from the shoot tissues and stored the metal at the root zone (BCFroots > 1), behaving as tolerant plants. Plants were also screened for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation, and only few species showed mycorrhizal presence, namely C. bilbaoana, Hirschfeldia incana, Epilobium tetragonum, Conyza sumatrensis, Pteridium aquilinum, P. urvillei and A. squamatus. The present work showed important indigenous species that can cope with installed harsh conditions and with potential for utilisation in phytoremediation strategies, either through metal removal to aerial parts or through its immobilisation in the root zone.

Longitudinal study of Australian stringhalt cases in France

Seventy horses with clinical evidence of Australian stringhalt were studied in France from 2003 to 2008. All horses but one had history of bilateral stringhalt and grazed pastures infested with Hypochoeris radicata (L.). They displayed hind limbs hyperflexion and an abnormal gait because of a distal axonopathy with a skeletal muscle denervation and atrophy. Fifty percentage of them recovered spontaneously in 8 months, and only the more affected horses were unable to recover even if they looked healthy on dry and hot days. Clinical troubles revealed also depression or aggressive behaviour, suggesting that central nervous system might be affected. Treatment with phenytoin resulted in a rapid noticeable improvement of stringhalt in some horses but the administration of taurine seems to improve behavioural disorders. Deeply affected horses (grade III and more of Huntington's classification at the beginning) must be treated with phenytoin when the weather is muddy and damp because they still display stringhalt when they are afraid or at the beginning of the work.

Resource use efficiency and community effects of invasive Hypochaeris radicata (Asteraceae) during primary succession

We sought to better understand the impacts and mechanisms underpinning a successful invasion of resource-poor sites by a nonnative plant on Mount St. Helens volcano (MSH). • We investigated the short-term effects of the nonnative plant Hypochaeris radicata on growth of native species colonizing drought-prone primary successional surfaces under N-limited and N-augmented conditions. To understand the success of H. radicata, we compared its resource use efficiency to that of a closely related native colonist, Hieracium albiflorum, under the same conditions. • Removing H. radicata did not affect growth of the most common colonists, but N addition demonstrated strong N limitation to growth in H. albiflorum, H. radicata, and Agrostis spp. Nonnative H. radicata exhibited lower water-use efficiency than H. albiflorum but did not differ in efficiency of N use. H. radicata biomass increased faster in response to an N pulse than did the native H. albiflorum, as did the pool of N held in H. radicata tissues. • Our findings contrast with results from Hawaiian volcanic sites, where higher short-term resource use efficiency was reported for invasive species, including H. radicata. Our results suggest that at MSH, the success of H. radicata relies on rapid uptake and utilization of N rather than on higher efficiency. This strategy is especially advantageous at MSH because N pulses commonly occur as a consequence of herbivore-induced mortality of Lupinus lepidus (Fabaceae).

Collective defense of Aphis nerii and Uroleucon hypochoeridis (Homoptera, Aphididae) against natural enemies.

The prevalent way aphids accomplish colony defense against natural enemies is a mutualistic relationship with ants or the occurrence of a specialised soldier caste typcial for eusocial aphids, or even both. Despite a group-living life style of those aphid species lacking these defense lines, communal defense against natural predators has not yet been observed there. Individuals of Aphis nerii (Oleander aphid) and Uroleucon hypochoeridis, an aphid species feeding on Hypochoeris radicata (hairy cat's ear), show a behavioral response to visual stimulation in the form of spinning or twitching, which is often accompanied by coordinated kicks executed with hind legs. Interestingly, this behaviour is highly synchronized among members of a colony and repetitive visual stimulation caused strong habituation. Observations of natural aphid colonies revealed that a collective twitching and kicking response (CTKR) was frequently evoked during oviposition attempts of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani and during attacks of aphidophagous larvae. CTKR effectively interrupted oviposition attempts of this parasitoid wasp and even repelled this parasitoid from colonies after evoking consecutive CTKRs. In contrast, solitary feeding A. nerii individuals were not able to successfully repel this parasitoid wasp. In addition, CTKR was also evoked through gentle substrate vibrations. Laser vibrometry of the substrate revealed twitching-associated vibrations that form a train of sharp acceleration peaks in the course of a CTKR. This suggests that visual signals in combination with twitching-related substrate vibrations may play an important role in synchronising defense among members of a colony. In both aphid species collective defense in encounters with different natural enemies was executed in a stereotypical way and was similar to CTKR evoked through visual stimulation. This cooperative defense behavior provides an example of a surprising sociality that can be found in some aphid species that are not expected to be social at all.

Region versus site variation in the population dynamics of three short‐lived perennials

Summary 1. When range shifts or invasions of plant species are studied, it is important to know whether large‐scale spatial variation in a species’ demography can be ignored or approximated by variation observed over smaller spatial scales. 2. Here, we studied the population dynamics of three similar (as shown by elasticity analysis) short‐lived perennial plant species in multiple sites in different European countries over 2 years. We constructed a total of 40 transition matrices and analysed the spatio‐temporal variation in the projected population growth rate (λ) with spatially nested life table response experiments (LTRE). 3. All species (Carlina vulgaris, Tragopogon pratensis and Hypochaeris radicata) showed considerable life‐history variation among regions on top of variation among sites within regions. 4. Net variance contributions (NVC), a novel LTRE statistic, revealed that in each species, variation in one group of vital rates contributed most to variation in λ among regions as well as among sites. However, that most important type of vital rates differed between species: plant growth in C. vulgaris, flower head production in T. pratensis and establishment probability of seedlings in H. radicata. The rankings of the NVCs of other vital rates varied between site and region effects, suggesting that buffering through negative vital rate correlations varies over different spatial scales, while the identity of the main contributor to λ variation is more constant. 5. Temporal effects were smaller than spatial effects, but the LTREs showed strong interactions between time and space (region or site), suggesting that the effect of, e.g. climate fluctuations are not synchronized throughout the distribution of a species. 6. Synthesis. This study shows that the life histories of plant species are distinguishable even when mean elasticity values show only small differences, and that life histories vary over the distribution range of a species. Demographic differences over large spatial scales can therefore only be partly substituted by small scale spatial variation in modelling studies on the population dynamics of a species across its entire distribution.

Stringhalt associated with a pasture infested with Hypochoeris radicata

Stringhalt associated with a pasture infested with Hypochoeris radicata

Soil influence on the performance of 26 native herbaceous plants suitable for sustainable Mediterranean landscaping

Native herbaceous plants have the potential for renaturalizing and recovering derelict soils, such as urban or anthropized soils. Ecological restoration following the establishment of a native wildflower meadow should lead to a reduction in management costs and to the preservation of native plant populations. This study was aimed at determining the ecological characteristics and the cultivation needs of 26 herbaceous species native to Italy and southern Europe in order to identify their landscape potential in low-maintenance conditions. The species were selected on the basis of their adaptation to unproductive soils in semi-natural and rural areas, and on their ornamental value, including their ability to attract insects. Mono-specific plots were set up in three different soils. Seed germination, seedling emergence, flowering dynamics, and plant growth were determined. Dormancy-breaking treatments were effective in improving the germination of most species. The percentage of field establishment and biomass appeared to be affected by the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil. Soil texture slightly affected seedling emergence, whereas soil texture and the C and N levels affected plant growth, the number of flowers and the duration of flowering. Dianthus carthusianorum, Verbascum blattaria, Matricaria chamomilla and Hypochoeris radicata developed a higher biomass per plant in the soils with a low nutrient content, indicating their adaptability to infertile soils. Daucus carota, Papaver rhoeas, Verbascum sinuatum, Coleostephus myconis produced a higher biomass per plant in the most fertile soil, where they appeared to show a higher potential when competing with other species. The ecological characteristics shown by the native plants are extremely important in terms of combining seeds of different species to create and to maintain semi-natural herbaceous communities in low-maintenance landscapes.

Effects of sedge and cottongrass tussocks on plant establishment patterns in a post-mined peatland, northern Japan

Facilitation (positive inter-specific interaction) plays an important role in promoting succession in harsh environments. To examine whether tussocks facilitate the establishment of other species, after peat mining, investigations were carried out in a formerly Sphagnum-dominated wetland (Sarobetsu mire, northern Japan). Two tussock-forming species, Carex middendorffii and Eriophorum vaginatum, have established in sparsely vegetated areas, with a dry ground surface, since peat extraction ended. The following factors were examined, in three microhabitats created by tussocks (center = raised tussock center, edge = tussock edge covered with litter, and flat = flat areas without tussocks): (1) relationships between tussock microhabitats and plant distributions, and (2) the effects of tussocks on survival, growth, flowering and seed immigration of common species. Two (1 × 10 m) plots were established, in each of three sparsely vegetated sites, in September 2005. Tussocks were mapped in each plot, and species, location, flowering, growth stage (seedling, juvenile and fertile) and size of all plants were recorded, during snow-free periods from September 2005 to September 2006. Seed traps were used to investigate seed dispersal from June to October 2006. Four native species, Drosera rotundifolia, Lobelia sessilifolia, Moliniopsis japonica, Solidago virgaurea, and an exotic species, Hypochaeris radicata, were most common. During seedling and juvenile stages, these species were distributed more densely at the tussock edge than in the flat areas, but were less common at the center. H. radicata had a higher survival rate at the edge than in the flat during the winter. The annual growth of H. radicata, L. sessilifolia and S. virgaurea was higher at the edge. Seed traps detected that D. rotundifolia seeds accumulate more at the edge. In conclusion, tussocks facilitated plant establishment in the edge microhabitat by providing litter cover, enhancing seed accumulation, germination and survival, and thus promoted revegetation. However, Sphagnum mosses have not established in the study sites, and the vegetation differs strongly from the areas where no peat mining had taken place.