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Abstract
About two-thirds of pine stands in the southeastern United States originated from natural seedfall (USDA Forest Service 1988) and this method of regeneration continues to be impor-tant for perpetuating the species. Loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda L. and Pinus echinatu Mill., respectively) are common associates throughout this geographic area and are the most important and widespread of the southern pines (Baker and Langdon 1990; Lawson 1990). For these two pine species, there have been persistent anecdotal reports of seed-lings becoming established on forested sites following natural seed-crop failures (Smith and Bower 1961; Lawson 1990). These reports suggest that seeds from loblolly and shortleaf pines carry over through at least two winters before germina-tion, but formal studies have failed to substantiate these field observations. For example, Little and Somes (1959), Wahlen-berg (1960), and Barnett and McGilvray (1991) concluded that few loblolly pine seeds remain viable in the forest floor through the second winter after dispersal. In all three investigations, environmental conditions were favorable to germination.
Citation
Cain, Michael D.; Shelton, Michael G. 1997. Loblolly and shortleaf pine seed viability through 21 months of field storage: Can carry-over occur between seed crops?. Can. J. For. Res. 27: 1901-1904 (1997). 4 p.
