Salinity and waterlogging tolerance of some populations of Melaleuca ericifolia Smith

Abstract

Seed germination of Melaleuca ericifolia (swamp paperbark) is delayed by submergence in water but the final percentage germination after removing seeds from water is unaffected; some seeds will germinate and the cotyledons emerge whilst submerged. Germination is totally inhibited at salinities of 14% and a population which naturally occurs adjacent to coastal saltmarsh was inhibited more by salinities of 6–12% than two other populations from freshwater habitats. Seedling growth may be increased by water‐logging conditions and the degree of response differs for different seed sources. Inundation stimulates root growth and new roots are thick and aerenchymatous. Root systems in the field run h..