To evaluate the effects of local competition on the growth and size va
riability of sprouts following disturbance in a natural population of
Arbutus unedo in Catalonia, plants were cut at the base and a neighbor
removal experiment was performed. Removal of neighbors resulted in an
increase in the number and biomass of sprouts at 2 and 7.5 months aft
er clipping. Number and biomass of sprouts was also correlated with in
itial plant size (stump area). Inter-genet competition appeared to be
symmetric, and acted to delay the onset of interference among sprouts
within a genet. Size variability of sprouts on an individual was posit
ively correlated with their density on the stump, supporting the hypot
hesis that competition among ramets (sprouts) within a genet is asymme
tric. Reduced inter-genet competition from neighbor removal resulted i
n an increase in the number and biomass of sprouts growing from a stum
p. This resulted in an increase in the asymmetry of competition among
sprouts, and therefore an increase in the size variability of these sp
routs.