Assessing native germplasm for extensive green roof systems of semiarid regions

SUÁREZ M.; CÁCERES N; HICK E; IMHOF L.; GALETTO LEONARDO

Ornamental Horticulture

SBFPO - Sociedade Brasileira de Floricultura e Plantas Ornamentais

Lugar: Sao Paulo; Año: 2018 vol. 24 p. 466 - 476

2447-536X

Extensive green roofs (EGR) spaces are harsh and stressful growing environments, which means that only a limited range of plants species is routinely used. Habitat template hypothesis suggests that EGR can be analogous as natural environments, what makes indigenous plants as an alternative for these conditions. This paper describes the characterization of 15 native of Córdoba Province (Argentina) species based on cover ability, survived rates and health status observations for 414 days. Sedum acre used as the control. Glandularia x hybrida, Phyla nodiflora, Melica macra, Eustachys retusa and Grindelia cabrerae conserved a 60% of coverage during all the period of study. The first two species had an outperformed green coverage (at 72 day; 89% and 75% respectively) before Sedum acre. Eustachys retusa and Grindelia cabrerae grew progressively and kept their coverage constant proximally to 65%. Sedum acre, Grindelia cabrerae, Hysterionica jasionoides, Melica macra, Phyla nodiflora, stood out in plant survival rates; but S. acre suffered changes in health status throughout the evaluation period, especially with low temperatures or at high humidity conditions. It is necessary to underline the reseeding potential of Eustachys retusa, process that could guarantee perpetuation of the species overtime.