Ontogeny of sporobolus fimbriatus tillers in the false thornveld of the Eastern Cape

Abstract

Marked populations of Sporobolus fimbriatus tillers were sequentially sampled at fortnightly intervals under normal rainfall conditions and under irrigation respectively, covering a period from tiller initiation through to senescence after flowering. Parameters recorded included shoot apex elevation, tiller mass and leaf development.

Surviving tillers consisted of two sub‐populations, those that flowered in autumn and those that remained vegetative. Flowering of individual apices was rapid, but was spread over a number of months for the whole population. Moisture played an important role in determining tiller size, and at least some forage was lost through leaf drop on tillers rested for a whole season.