Fruit clustering in the myrtaceae: Seed survival in capsules subjected to experimental heating

Abstract

The effect of the natural clustering of capsules on seed insulation was investigated by heating mature capsules of Kunzea ambigua in a muffle furnace at 250°C for up to 5 min. Survival of the encapsulated seed of K. ambigua was higher when capsules were retained in their natural aggregates than when individual fruits were heated. Seed within clustered K. ambigua fruits also survived heating for longer periods than in individual capsules of both Leptospermum laevigatum and Eucalyptus regnans, species which depend heavily on encapsulated seed for post-fire regeneration. The clustered arrangement of sessile K. ambigua capsules reduces exposure to external heat sources by protecting the base and..