Patterns of flowering and fruiting in disturbed populations of Larrea divaricata Cav.

DIANA MARCO; ANA CALVIÑO; SERGIO PAEZ

Journal of Arid Environments

Año: 2000 vol. 44 p. 327 - 346

We analyzed the pattern of flower, fruit and seed production in three populations of L. divaricata occurring in three different habitats of the semiarid Chaco Forest. Two of them occupied old forest areas replaced by scrublands after severe disturbances. The third population was located in an undisturbed forest area since the beginning of this century. Both timing and production of flowers, fruits and seeds differed between the populations analyzed during the sampling period. The forest population had an earlier reproduction and a fruit production comparable to or higher than the scrubland populations. The wide distribution of L. divaricata may be related to its ability to maintain its reproductive output in habitats with contrasting conditions.