Smoke-induced germination in the endangered eriodictyon capitatum (namaceae)
2021
Schneider, H. E. | Carson, S. A. | Termondt, S. E.
Understanding the germination cues of rare plants is critical to their conservation, restoration, and management. We used a greenhouse study to investigate the germination of Eriodictyon capitatum Eastw. (Lompoc yerba santa) seeds to understand the species' life history and to inform restoration efforts. Eriodictyon capitatum is a woody shrub that is listed as rare by the state of California and endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Limited to just seven extant occurrences, E. capitatum does not currently readily produce seeds at most sites, but it does spread clonally, sometimes leading to low genetic diversity in aboveground vegetation. We collected seeds from one wild occurrence and measured germination rates in response to each of five physical treatments: control, dry heat, hot soak, liquid smoke, and scarification. Each physical treatment was replicated under both light and dark conditions. The highest percent germination was recorded with the liquid smoke treatment and the fastest germination occurred when seeds were sown in the dark and treated with liquid smoke. The significant impact of liquid smoke on seed germination suggests that E. capitatum is adapted to fire and that periodic fires could potentially promote aboveground genetic diversity by eliciting a flush of germination from the soil seed bank. These results can facilitate future propagation efforts, inform management, and also highlight the important role of fire in the life history of this endangered plant.
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