Curtin University Homepage
  • Library
  • Help
    • Admin

    espace - Curtin’s institutional repository

    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item
    • espace Home
    • espace
    • Curtin Research Publications
    • View Item

    Seed and Seedling Biology of the Woody-fruited Proteaceae

    Access Status
    Fulltext not available
    Authors
    Lamont, Byron
    Groom, Philip
    Date
    1998
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Lamont, B.B. and Groom, P.K. (1998) Seed and seedling biology of woody fruited Proteaceae. Australian Journal of Botany 46, 387-406.
    DOI
    10.1071/BT96135
    Faculty
    School of Agriculture and Environment
    Faculty of Science and Engineering
    Department of Environmental Biology
    Remarks

    This item may be available from Dr Philip Groom

    Email: p.groom@curtin.edu.au

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31944
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    Within the Proteaceae, 353 species confined to 7 genera in the Grevilleoideae have woody fruits. The majority (> 70%) occur in fire-prone vegetation on nutrient-poor, summer-dry soils of south-western Australia. These species are characterised by large, winged seeds contained within serotinous follicles. Seed release is mediated by desiccation of the follicle walls resulting from fruit death, although wet–dry cycles are required in some genera. After release, germination must take place by the next wet season, as the seeds are not long-lived. Seeds are particularly high in protein (40–60%), P (1–2%) and Fe (10–60‰) compared with other Proteaceae. Seeds are favoured food for pre- and post-dispersal granivores (insects, birds, rodents) and young seedlings are favoured by herbivores (insects, marsupials), with the more serotinous fruits providing extra protection for their seeds. Successful establishment is facilitated by the protective and water retentive role of the testa during germination, and the remobilisation of N and P from the cotyledons to the seedling within 10 weeks of emergence. Drought stress reduces seedling establishment in otherwise favourable postfire microsites and prevents it (assisted by herbivores) in mature vegetation. Typically, < 10% of seeds released after fire become seedlings, and < 50% of these survive the first summer. Among fire-killed species, species that produce few seeds are more likely to have drought-resistant seedlings, often associated with larger seeds and/or needle-shaped leaves. Species that resprout after fire produce a few large viable seeds per plant, whereas fire-killed species produce many smaller seeds. Of all the Proteaceae, the ecology of woody-fruited species is best known, providing great scope for comparative biology studies.

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Conservation biology of the rare and threatened Dryandra ionthocarpa, D. mimica and D. serra
      Monks, Leonie T. (1999)
      The genus Dryandra, in the family Proteaceae, is endemic to south-western Australia. It consists of 92 named species and is an important component of some kwongan communities. Various aspects of the ecology of three ...
    • Phosphorus accumulation in Proteaceae seeds: a synthesis
      Groom, Philip; Lamont, Byron (2009)
      The family Proteaceae dominates the nutrient-poor, Mediterranean-climate floristic regions of southwestern Australia (SWA) and the Cape of South Africa. It is well-recognised that mediterranean Proteaceae have comparatively ...
    • Bird pollinators, seed storage and cockatoo granivores explain large woody fruits as best seed defense in Hakea
      Lamont, B.; Hanley, M.; Groom, P.; He, Tianhua (2016)
      Nutrient-impoverished soils with severe summer drought and frequent fire typify many Mediterranean-type regions of the world. Such conditions limit seed production and restrict opportunities for seedling recruitment making ...
    Advanced search

    Browse

    Communities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument TypeThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorTitleSubjectDocument Type

    My Account

    Admin

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Follow Curtin

    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 
    • 

    CRICOS Provider Code: 00301JABN: 99 143 842 569TEQSA: PRV12158

    Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy statement | Accessibility

    Curtin would like to pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which the Perth campus is located, the Whadjuk people of the Nyungar Nation; and on our Kalgoorlie campus, the Wongutha people of the North-Eastern Goldfields.