Are there systematic differences in germination between rare and common species? A case study from central European mountains

Seed mass of rare and common congeners was not significantly different. The results indicated that after cold stratification, the proportions of germinated seeds were higher in rare than in common species. In common species, the proportions of germinated seeds were significantly higher during cold stratification than those of rare species. Rare species had higher proportions of germinated seeds than those of their common congeners, and total proportions of germinated seeds were influenced by seed mass and species rarity. Rare species were apparently well adapted to local conditions in the mountains and the inability to germinate was clearly not a cause for their rarity. The study provides unique data on proportions of germinated seeds over a wide spectrum of species and conditions.