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AOBPreview published online on October 2, 2002
Annals of Botany, doi:10.1093/aob/mcf247
© 2002 by Annals of Botany Company
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Submitted on June 6, 2002
Revised on July 1, 2002
Accepted on August 15, 2002

Comparative Analysis of Growth Rings in Perennial Forbs Grown in an Alpine Restoration Experiment

H. DIETZ1* and M. FATTORINI2

Affiliation of the authors: 1 Geobotanical Institute ETH, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurichbergstrasse 38, CH-8044 Zurich, Switzerland; 2 Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Dornburgerstrasse 159, D-07743 Jena, Germany

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dietz{at}geobot.umnw.ethz.

Recent studies have demonstrated that growth rings are widespread in the roots of forbs, and there is evidence that the rings are formed annually. However, the annual nature and development of the growth rings has not yet been examined in comparative experimental studies. In this study growth rings were analysed in the main roots of four alpine forbs (Lotus alpinus, Trifolium thalii, Silene willdenowii and Potentilla aurea) that were grown in an alpine restoration experiment for 6 years. All individuals of L. alpinus and T. thalii, and some individuals of S. willdenowii showed six clearly demarcated growth rings, demonstrating that the rings were formed annually. P. aurea did not show distinguishable growth rings. In L. alpinus and T. thalii there were fluctuations in growth ring width that were consistent between individuals and also between species, and matched variations in climatic growth conditions. Results of the present study indicate that conclusions drawn from previous studies suggesting that growth rings in the roots of forb species are most likely formed annually are also valid for alpine plants. In terms of annual ring width patterns, this study also provides the first strong evidence for consistent responses of different forb species and individuals to commonly experienced variations in habitat conditions.
Key words: Alpine zone, annual rings, climatic fluctuations, growth conditions, Lotus alpinus, main roots, perennial forbs, Potentilla aurea, Silene willdenowii, Trifolium thalii.


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