Lack of sexual reproduction within mountain steppe populations of the clonal shrub Juniperus sabina L. in semi-arid southern Mongolia

Ample evidence was found for clonal growth. Patches of similar sexes of J. sabina were spatially associated in the field. RAPD-fingerprinting demonstrated that patches were constituted by a single genet. As mean current growth rates were between 1.8 and 6.8 cm year−1, we estimated that the largest patches found in the study area had minimum ages of 770-2940 years. Thus, establishment of seedlings may have taken place in periods defined by more favourable climatic conditions, whereas dry phases have apparently been survived by clonal growth. This combination of rare sexual reproduction with extended periods of exclusively vegetative reproduction could be a widespread strategy in the harsh conditions of the central Asian drylands.