A Contribution to the Germination Ecology of Rumex crispus L.

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Abstract
To better understand how the germination of R. crispus L. seeds is controlled in nature the timing of seed dispersal; germination requirements of seeds collected from plants in the field at various times between seed maturity in early summer and natural seed dispersal in late winter and the effect of stratification in light and darkness on germination in light and darkness at various alternating temperatures were investigated. Freshly matured seeds germinated to high percentages in light at 20.degree./10.degree., 30.degree./15.degree. and 35.degree./20.degree. C and to low percentages at 15.degree./6.degree. C. Seeds did not germinate in darkness at any temperature tested. Stratification of seeds in light fulfilled the light requirement for seeds incubated in darkness, whereas stratification in darkness did not overcome the light requirement. Stratification in light or darkness caused a higher percentage of the seeds to germinate in light at 15.degree./6.degree. C. Some ecological implications of these results are discussed.

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