Survival of <i>Sarcopoterium Spinosum</i> seedlings growing on terra rossa soil

Abstract

Seedling survival of the dwarf shrub Sarcopoterium spinosum growing on hilly terra rossa soil was monitored between 2000 and 2004 on forty 1 × 1-m quadrats, each of which contained a single shrub. Of the 40 shrubs, 20 (designated P+) received a dressing of super-phosphate in 1988 and 20 (designated P-) did not. After seed dispersal in 1999, the shrubs were uprooted to prevent further addition of seeds. Seed dispersal was monitored up to 50 cm from the edge of the mother shrub. There were large year-to-year differences in emergence that were not clearly related to the rainfall distribution. On the P+ quadrats the peak biomass of herbaceous vegetation was consistently greater and the number of emergent seedlings was consistently smaller than on the P-quadrats, but seedling survival was not related to differences in herbaceous biomass. Our main conclusions are: S. spinosum germination is extremely erratic from year to year; only 0.5 of an average of 8-14 seedlings m -2 that emerged, survived the first summer; these survivors had a good chance of becoming established plants; seedlings can become established in dense herbaceous vegetation; seedling dispersal was limited to 50 cm from the edge of the shrub; the current soil seed bank can maintain recruitment for at least 5 years without replenishment.

Anti-diabetic activity of aerial parts of Sarcopoterium spinosum

“…Thus, uprooting the shrub might create an economic burden for the development of a product based on S. spinosum roots. This obstacle is further intensified when taking into account the low seedling rate of S. spinosum [ 22 ].…”

Sarcopoterium spinosum extract as an antidiabetic agent: In vitro and in vivo study

“…During the last 20 years, several extensive ethno-botanical surveys have been carried out in Jordan and Israel in order to document and identify the local medicinal plant species used by traditional Muslim medicine (Al-Qura'n, 2009;Ali-Shtayeh et al, 2000;Dafni et al, 1984;Friedman et al, 1986;Hamdan and Afifi, 2004;Henkin and Seligman, 2007;Yaniv et al, 1987). There has been a decline in the variety and extent of medical plant usage by local practitioners in the Middle East.…”

“…Its branches are wooden, end in branched thorns and grow to a length of 30-40 cm. In the summer the green winter leaves at the end of the branches develop into thorns and are replaced by tiny leaves (Henkin and Seligman, 2007).…”