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Growth Kinetics And Longevity Of The Salt Marsh Rush Juncus Roemerianus, Lionel N. Eleuterius, John D. Caldwell

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Vegetative development of shoots of the tidal marsh rush Juncus roemerianus was studied quantitatively in short (S) , medium (M), and tall-leaved (T) populations. Shoot longevity varied between populations, with some shoots producing one leaf and living 4 months, while others produced seven leaves and lived over 4 years. An equation was developed from plastochron and leaf-age determinations to estimate shoot age in each population studied. Major morphological events common to all populations were (1) cessation of growth of the first leaf produced on an erect stem when growth of the second leaf was initiated, and (2) death of the …