GERMINATION OF PREVIOUSLY BURIED SEEDS OF FRINGED SAGE (ARTEMISIA-FRIGIDA)

Seeds of fringed sage were collected in four different years in the No rthern Mixed Prairie and placed in sealed vials in the field for up to 5 yr. The seeds were exhumed monthly and incubated at 10 or 20 C in l ight or darkness. Germination was greater at 10 than 20 C and greater in light than darkness. The overriding influences of light and tempera ture generally decreased as seeds aged. No well-dermed dormancy/nondor mancy or conditional dormancy/nondormancy cycles were revealed. Longev ity of seeds varied among collections, ranging from 3 1/2 to more than 5 yr. Patterns in germination of different collections were similar w hen they experienced the same annual changes in temperatures, indicati ng that germination of previously buried seeds of fringed sage was reg ulated by temperature. This regulating effect varied among years of st orage; germination either increased or decreased with increasing tempe ratures, or was not affected. Results suggest that fringed sage seeds can germinate and emerge anytime during the growing season if temperat ure and moisture conditions are suitable. Continuous germination may e nable fringed sage to occupy safe sites as they develop over time.