Dispersal and floating ability of dimorphic fruit segments of Cakile edentula var. lacustris

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Abstract
Cakile edentula (Bigel) Hook var. lacustris occurs abundantly along sandy beaches of Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario. Until now the species had not been reported to occur along Georgian Bay but we located one population at Deanlea Beach. The deciduous upper fruit segments disperse long distances by water waves and currents and short distances by rolling caused by strong winds. The lower fruit segments usually remain attached to the parents which may be uprooted by high waves and then transported as tumble weeds to new locations. The floatation experiment showed that the agitation of jars containing the fruits improved their floating ability. Agitated upper fruit segments showed a significantly lower sinking index than agitated lower fruit segments and upper and lower fruit segments in the still treatment. The overwintering of fruits improved their floating ability.