Germination behaviour of seeds of the New Zealand speciesFuchsia excorticata, Griselinia littoralis, Macropiper excelsum, andMelicytus ramiflorus

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Abstract
Germination rates, percentage germination success, and phenomena related to germination delay for two provenances each of seeds from freshly collected fruit of Fuchsia excorticata, Macropiper excelsum, and Melicytus ramiflorus, and one provenance of Griselinia littoralis were determined. Normally the seeds of all four species are bird-dispersed. The experimental treatments simulated natural conditions that the seeds might experience after dispersal (well-lit; in the dark; in the fleshy pericarp tissues; on soil). A tetrazolium viability test was also performed. In the standard (cleaned, moist, well-lit) treatment, seeds of each of these species germinated rapidly in summer — early autumn, with high success. The dark treatment seeds of Fuchsia and Griselinia germinated more slowly than those in the standard treatment and the success was lower. Seeds surrounded by pericarp tissues either did not germinate (Griselinia), or germinated slowly, with low success (the other three species). Fewer seeds germinated on soil than in the standard treatment. The tetrazolium test for Macropiper indicated considerably lower potential germinability than was achieved in the standard treatment. Only slightly lower potential germinability was indicated for the other three species. The specific germination patterns appear to be consistent for different provenances and with the habitat preferences of the respective species.