Biodiv Sci ›› 1998, Vol. 06 ›› Issue (3): 167-171.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.1998025

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Life history traits and mechanisms of endangerment in Ranalisma rostratum

WANG Jian-Bo, CHEN Jia-Kuan, LI Rong-Qian, HE Guo-Qing   

  1. College of Life Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan  430072
  • Received:1997-09-15 Revised:1997-12-02 Online:1998-08-20 Published:1998-08-20

Abstract: Ranalisma rostratum (Alismataceae) is an endangered aquatic plant , and now there exists only one population in China. In its natural habitat , Huli marsh in Chaling , Hunan Province , the best growing plants were observed at microsites where the water depth is five to 10 cm , and the plants grow in emergent form. R. rostratum reproduces asexually or sexually , and recruitment of asexual propagules into population is a very importment way to maintain the natural population size. Although seed production does not appear to limit R. rostratum , restricted dispersal of propagules and seeds , low seed viability , low germinability , slow growth of seedlings under all conditions , and habitat loss due to agriculture appear to be more important reasons for the endangerment of this plant .