New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

---

Ecological studies on Hoheria glabrata (Malvaceae) at Arthur's Pass, South Island, New Zealand

PETER HAASE*

Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
University of Canterbury, Private Bag
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Aspects of the ecology of the subal- pine tree Hoheria glabrata were investigated at Pegleg Flat, Arthur's Pass National Park. H. gla- brata is an early serai tree on recently disturbed sites. Average annual radial increment of timber- line specimens was 1.6 mm, and shoot extension growth ranged from 74 mm in mature trees to 151 mm in juveniles. The comparatively high growth rates and vegetative regeneration by epi- cormic shoots enable the plants to survive exten- sive mechanical damage and frost damage to growing shoots. The lateral flower buds are pro- duced annually but the subsequent flowering inten- sity can be reduced by abortion of buds or flowers following adverse climatic conditions. The cocci of the dry, lobed fruit are wind dispersed; however most seeds fall close to the parent trees where suc- cessful establishment is unlikely. Open habitats with exposed mineral soil or gravel deposits are easily invaded when seed sources are available. Success- ful germination requires pre-chilling; seeds also germinate in the absence of light and at tempera- tures close to freezing point.

Keywords Hoheria glabrata; subalpine forest; tree architecture; vegetative regeneration; shoot extension growth; deciduousness; annual flowering; seed germination; New Zealand flora

Received 25 September 1986; accepted 30 October 1986
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1987, Vol. 25 : 401-409
0028-825X/87/2503-0401$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1987

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (792K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

---

This year's abstracts | Journal home page | All abstracts | Publishing home page