Predictions of fate from rosette size in four "biennial" plant species: Verbascum thapsus, Oenothera biennis, Daucus carota, and Tragopogon dubius

Abstract

Individual plants were marked in field populations of four biennial plant species, Verbascum thapsus L., Oenothera biennis L., Daucus carota L., and Tragopogon dubius Scop., and followed for 2 or 3 years. The relationship of both rosette size and age to the probability of an individual dying, remaining vegetative, or flowering was determined for each species. In all four species, a minimum size must be reached before flowering can be induced and above that minimum the probability of flowering increases directly with rosette size. Conversely, the probability of dying decreases with increasing rosette size. In general, the fate of a rosette appears to be independent of its age although in populations where the probability of death is high for individuals above the minimum size for flowering, the age of a rosette may influence its fate to some extent.