54 



locally detrimental to their populations 

 (Lesica, 1988) ; see Appendix D, p. 71. 



3. Seed dispersal. 



a. General mechanisms: Silene spaldingii has 

 no apparent specialized mechanisms for 

 long-distance seed dispersal. However, 

 the seeds are very small and somewhat 

 inflated, which might allow them to be 

 easily dispersed by wind (Peter Lesica, 

 pers. comm. ) . 



b. Specific agents: Possibly wind. The 

 fruit develops holes through which seeds 

 may be ejected when wind causes stem 

 movement (Peter Lesica, pers. comm.). 



c. Vulnerability of dispersal agents and 

 mechanisms: Unknown. 



d. Patterns of propagule dispersal: Unknown. 



4. Seed biology. 



a. Amount and variation of seed production: 



Details unknown. Mature fruits appear to 

 produce large numbers of seed (Lesica, 

 1988); see Appendix D, p. 71. 



b. Seed viability and longevity: Unknown. 



c. Dormancy requirements: Unknown. 



d. Germination requirements: Seeds of S. 

 spaldingii might require a period of cold 

 stratification for germination (Lesica, 

 1988) ; see Appendix C, p. 70, for the 

 results of this study. 



e. Percent germination: Although the 

 germination study emphasized cold 

 stratification, the percentages given 

 above indicate that most of the seeds 

 produced are viable (Lesica, 1988); see 

 Appendix C, p. 70. 



5. Seedling ecology: Lesica (1988) found that 

 seedlings began growth immediately, and after 

 60 days had rosettes with 6-14 leaves. These 

 leaves then senesced, but after approximately 

 45 days most individuals put out new leaves. 



