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Recognizining Individuals of Plant Population
Recognizining Individuals of Plant Population
5 fstambaoan@up.edu.ph
7 ABSTRACT
8 Aims
9 This study aimed to differentiate and recognize genets from ramets, differentiate
10 phalanx and guerilla module formation, recognize the module formation exhibited by
11 different plants and explain the influence of environmental factors to the growth
12 formation of plants.
13 Methods
14 The study was done by observing eight (8) different species of plants found
15 around University of the Philippines Los Baños. In each genet of the plant, mother and
16 daughter ramets were located. The distance of daughter ramet from each other and from
17 their mother ramet was measured. Thereafter, the growth pattern of each ramet was
18 identified. Other environmental factors was also noted during the observation.
19 Important Findings
21 environment. A single species of plant can undergo both phalanx and guerilla formation
22 or just one from the two. They are highly affected by their environment. Space and
24 formation of plant.
25 Key words
27 Results
28 There were eight (8) species of plants observed around the campus namely:
29 Ivory cane palm (Pinanga coronata), bamboo (Bambusa sp.), traveller’s palm
30 (Ravenala sp.), Canna sp., Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.), palmera, banana (Musa sp.),
31 and Adiantum sp. The data collected from these plants is summarized in Table 1.
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41 Figure 1 shows the genet of the ivory cane palm which was observed to have
42 numerous ramets. The mother ramet of this plant was not identified since every ramets
43 are almost of same height and color. The average distance of selected daughter ramets
44 from each other is 0.165 m. The longest distance taken was 30cm and the shortest was
45 8cm.
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51 Figure 2. Bamboo (Bambusa sp.)
52 Figure 2 shows the genet of bamboo (Bambusa sp.) with its numerous ramets.
53 Mother ramet of this plant was also not identified since most of them were observed to
54 be relatively of the same age. Distances (in m) of selected daughter ramets with each
55 other are was measured. The average of their distances is 0.0541 cm. The longest
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65 Each of the four (4) erected plants seen in Figure 3 were considered as an
66 individual genet of the traveller’s palm (Ravenala sp.). One of the four genets was
67 selected as a mother ramet. There were eight (8) daughter ramets surrounding the
68 selected mother ramet. The average distance of the daughter ramets to each other and to
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79 There were five (5) mother ramets identified in the Canna sp. shown in Figure 4.
80 Each mother ramet had less than ten (10) daughter ramets. The average distance of
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89 Figure 5 shows the genet of carabao grass in where three (3) mother ramets were
90 identified. Each mother ramet is surrounded by more than ten (10) daughter ramets. The
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98 Figure 6. Palmera
99 Figure 6 shows the genet of a palmera plant. From this genet, the mother ramet
100 was identified based on the height and modular markings. The mother ramet was the
101 highest and had the most modular markings. There were less than ten (10) daughter
102 ramets observed. The average distance of daughter ramets from each other and their
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112 shown in Figure 7. Each mother plant had less than ten (10) daughter ramets around it.
113 The average distance of the daughter ramets from their mother ramets is 0.0623m.
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120 The genet of Adiantum sp. shown in Figure is embedded in a cement wall
121 making them exposed to sunlight. Only one mother ramet was observed in this species.
122 There were more than ten (10) daughter ramets observed.The average distance of the
124
125 Discussion
126 Plant with numerous ramets are called clonal plants. These kinds of plants can
127 vary in their growth formation. It can be either phalanx or guerilla (Gurevitch, et. al.,
128 2006). Phalanx species are those that clumped together and confers strong resistance to
129 the invasion of competitors (Slade & Hutchings 1987). On the other hand, guerilla
130 species shows strong lateral spread ability that allows them to quickly forage for and
131 colonize free spaces (de Kroon & Hutchings 1995). These plants reproduce asexually.
133 In this study, Pinanga coronata and Bambusa sp. were observed to have
134 numerous ramets that are close to each other. These plants exhibited phalanx formation.
135 In the case of Pinanga, the plant was enclosed with rocks and cement giving
136 them limited space to occupy. Moreover, it was also surrounded with other plants such
137 as ferns and peanut plant that became their competitors for space causing them to
139 The Bamboo (Bambusa sp.) also exhibited phalanx formation. It is located near
140 a parking lot and is bounded by cement. Due to the cement boundaries, they were only
142 Other plants observed exhibiting phalanx formation are the traveller’s palm
143 (Ravenala sp.), palmera, Canna sp. and banana (Musa sp.) It is assumed by the
144 researcher that these plants were cultivated in locations preferred by the cultivator.
145 Their current location also affected the growth form they are exhibiting.
146 The palmera plant in this study exhibited phalanx formation. It is bounded by
147 cement and is surrounded by grass, as a consequence, they only have limited space to
148 occupy and furthermore, they have competitors for both space and nutrients.
149 The Ravenala sp. observed in this study is located in an open grassy ground near
150 the road. These plants had four (4) genets or four (4) mother ramets that were cultivated
151 away from each other with an average distance of 3.25m. If these four (4) genets or
152 mother ramets are to be considered, their distance shows a guerilla formation. However,
153 if the distance of mother ramets to their daughter ramets is considered, they exhibit
155 The Canna sp. observed is located near the announcement board of the College
156 of Economics and Management, UPLB, which covers the plant with its shadow causing
157 the plant to receive minimal sunlight. Moreover, the board does not only limit light
158 source but also, poles of the board inhibits growth of more ramets.
159 The cultivate banana (Musa sp.) exhibited phalanx formation. The mother
160 ramets observed were close to each other due to limited space. Also, the daughter
161 ramets are near their mother. There are other plants surrounding it which limits their
163 From the eight plant species observed, two (2) species were identified to exhibit
164 guerilla formation: the Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.) and Adiantum sp.
165 The Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.) is located in a place that is highly disturbed
166 by humans. There were also ants disturbing it during the observation. Due to these
167 disturbances, the three (3) mother ramets observed were far from each other. This plant
169 The Adiantum sp. is embedded in a cement wall and is creeping with moss and
170 other plant competitors. Due to the presence of these competitors, one daughter ramet to
171 another becomes distant from each other. Their competitors can also be classified as
172 guerillas since guerilla forms are more likely to co-occur with other guerrillas.
173 Moreover, their long thin stem is also an evidence for the guerilla formation (Lambio,
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176
177 The study of Hua ye, Hai-yu and Dong (2006) supported the hypothesis that a
178 plant can exhibit both phalanx and guerilla formation. In their study, as nutrients supply
179 increase, the proportion of clumping ramets in L. secalinus also increased while
180 spreading ramets decreased. Trade-off between guerrilla and phalanx formation existed
181 in the clonal grass L. secalinus, in response to resource availability. Therefore, a plant
182 species can exhibit both phalanx and guerilla depending on environmental factors such
184
185 References
186 de Kroon, H. and Hutchings, M.J. 1995. Morphological plasticity in clonal plants: the
187 foraging concept reconsidered. Journal of Ecology.
188
189 Gurevitch, J. and Gordon, F. 2006. The Ecology of Plants. 2nd Ed. Sinauer Associates
190 Inc., US
191
192 Hua-ye, X., Hai-yu, F and Dong, M. 2006. A Trade-off Between Guerrilla and Phalanx
193 Growth Forms in Leymus secalinus Under Different Nutrient Supplies. Annals
194 of Botany, Volume 98, Issue 1
195
196 Lambio, IAF, VC Cuevas and PE Sajise. 2015. A Guide to the Laboratory Exercises in
197 Plant Ecology. Environmental Biology Division, Instiute of Biological Sciences,
198 CAS,UPLB
199
200 Slade, A.J. and Hutchings, M.J. 1987. The effects of light intensity on foraging in the
201 clonal herb Glechoma hederacea. Journal of Ecology.
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