Seasonal changes in the germination responses of buried Lamium amplexicaule seeds

Spring‐produced seeds of Lamium amplexicaule L. were buried in pots of soil in an unheated glasshouse in June 1978, and at 1–2‐month intervals, for 27 months, they were exhumed and tested for germination in light and darkness at temperatures simulating those in the habitat from early spring to late autumn. Freshly‐matured seeds were dormant, but by autumn 85% or more germinated in light at 15/6, 20/10, 25/15 and 30/15°C but only 7% or less in darkness. During late autumn and winter germination in light decreased at 25/15 and 30/15 °C but not at 15/6 and 20/10 °C, and germination in darkness increased at 15/6 and 20/10 °C. During late winter and early spring germination in light at 15/6 and 20/10 °C decreased, and seeds lost the ability to germinate in darkness. By the second autumn of burial, seeds germinated to near 100% in light at 15/6 to 30/15 °C and to 10–25% in darkness at 15/6 and 20/10 °C. The cycle of germination responses was repeated during the second winter and spring and the third summer of burial. Autumn‐produced seeds were dormant when buried in November 1979, but by spring they germinated to 81 and 36% at 15/6 and 20/10 °C, respectively, in light. These seeds afterripened further during summer. The consequence of seasonal changes in germination responses is that (1) seeds can germinate in the habitat in late summer, autumn and spring but not in early‐ to mid‐summer or in late autumn and winter and (2) during both germination seasons, seeds produced during the previous spring(s) and/or autumn(s) can germinate.