Abstract
When the seeds are dispersed from the parent plant they are scattered into a very heterogeneous environment in which few sites are likely to be safe. Dormancy is a delaying mechanism which prevents germination under conditions which might prove to be unsuitable for establishment. As long as the seed remains viable the possibility exists that it may eventually find itself more favourably placed.
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© 1985 Michael Fenner
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Fenner, M. (1985). Dormancy. In: Seed Ecology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4844-0_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4844-0_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-25930-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4844-0
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