Ecology and Systematics of Hypoxis sessilis and H. wrightii (Hypoxidaceae) in Southern Florida
Herndon A. 1988. Ecology and Systematics of Hypoxis sessilis and H. wrightii (Hypoxidaceae) in Southern Florida. American Journal of Botany. 75(12):1803-1812
Fire acts as a strong flowering stimulus for Hypoxis sessilis and Hypoxis wrightii in southern Florida. Flowering intensity reaches a peak during the period 6-12 weeks postburn. Thereafter, reproductive activity decreases and follows a seasonal pattern with maximum intensity observed during the summer months. Some plants in each population are reproductively active throughout the year. In addition to increasing reproductive intensity, fire also influences the morphology of the inflorescence. Those inflorescences produced shortly after the burn are larger, more likely to have two flowers, and have chasmogamous flowers. Within three weeks after the start of flowering, all flowers produced by the plants are cleistogamous. Inflorescence size decreases soon afterward. Easy recognition of the two species is hampered by this morphological plasticity, but they retain enough distinguishing characteristics in southern Florida to be considered separate species.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Herndon, Alan
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Blooming Period, Dade County FL, FIRE, fringed yellow stargrass (Hypoxis juncea), glossyseed yellow stargrass (Hypoxis sessilis), Habitats, Navy Wells Pineland Preserve FL, Plant Studies, Reproduction, Taxonomy