INTEGRATED GROWTH-PATTERNS OF TURTLE GRASS, THALASSIA-TESTUDINUM BANKS EX KONIG

Indications of physiological integration in the clonal plant Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig from the Puerto Morelos reef lagoon, Mexica n Caribbean, were deduced from synchronisation in the formation of 'in active shoots', lateral rhizomes and inflorescences. 'Inactive shoots' (i.e. bare, pointed shoots with live roots attached) on a rhizome sec tion often had similar numbers of leaf scars. Lateral rhizome sections were generally found in similar positions when a rhizome had more tha n one shoot bearing a lateral rhizome. Additionally, the position of l ateral rhizomes and the number of leaf scars on inactive shoots were o ften similar when encountered on the same rhizome section. Synchronisa tion of flowering events was suggested by the similar position of infl orescence scars on different shoots on the same rhizome section. It is suggested that inactive shoots can play a role in density regulation of the clonal population, and that they possibly constitute a 'dormant meristem bank' analogous to 'seed banks', or 'dormant bud banks'.