Sa. Setterfield et Rj. Williams, PATTERNS OF FLOWERING AND SEED PRODUCTION IN EUCALYPTUS-MINIATA AND E-TETRODONTA IN A TROPICAL SAVANNA WOODLAND, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA, Australian Journal of Botany, 44(2), 1996, pp. 107-122
The reproductive phenology-the annual and spatial variation in tree fe
cundity, ovule development and seedfall-of Eucalyptus miniata Cunn. ex
Schauer and E. tetrodonta F. Muell. is described at a tropical savann
a site in northern Australia from 1992 to 1994. There was substantial
inter-annual variability in fecundity of both species at the individua
l and the population level. The proportion of ovules which survived di
d not vary significantly between years. Seed production and seedfall v
aried substantially between years with large seed yields in 1994 and l
ow seed yields in 1993. Eucalyptus miniata and E. tetrodonta are separ
ated in time (by 2-8 weeks) with respect to peak periods for all key p
henology events-budding, flowering and seedfall. Both species are non-
serotinous with all seed shed within 8 months of ovule initiation. Pea
k seedfall occurred up to 1 month before the first wet season rains fo
r E. miniata and coincided with these rains for E. tetrodonta. Post-di
spersal conditions for germination and establishment are more likely t
han seed supply to limit seedling establishment of E. miniata and E. t
etrodonta.