Seed germination characteristics of Centaurea diffusa and C. Maculosa
Journal: cIRcle (University of British Columbia)
Year: 2010

The problematic reinfestation of chemically-treated sites by diffuse and spotted knapweed {Centaurea diffusa and C. maculosa) is thought to occur from dormant seeds in the soil. This study confirmed that reserves of dormant seeds are present in the soil of infested sites, although greater numbers of seeds were recovered from senesced plants. Knapweed plants produce both non-dormant and dormant seeds (germination polymorphism), the relative proportions of which vary between individual plants with