Growth Analysis of Sumatran Monophyllaea, Possessing Only One Leaf Throughout Perennial Life

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Growth and allometry were analyzed for populations of Monophyllaea hirtella Miq. and M. horsfieldii R. Br. (Gesneriaceae), forest floor herbs that have only one cotyledonous leaf throughout life, in an equatorial rain forest in West Sumatra. Monophyllaea populations consisted of individuals of various sizes up to 30 g dry weight and 50×70 cm in leaf width and length. The relative growth rate (RGR) declined with size to an asymptotic value of 0.015-0.018 g g^<-1> week^<-1> for large individuals at sexual maturity (>2 g dry weight). The size-RGR relation did not differ among observations at three different times of year and between two species in different habitats, indicating that it takes 4.6 years for seedlings to attain sexual maturity and 6.4 years to reach 10 g dry weight. Irrespective of embryonic organization of Monophyllaea, clear allometry existed among organs. Net assimilation rate was constant for juveniles and increased with size for adults. Decline of both the specific leaf area and the ratio of assimilate allocation to leaf caused the decrease of RGR with size. Reproductive allocation was 31% to reproductive organs and at most 5% to seeds in net production in a large individual of 20 g dry weight.
種生物学会の論文