The Dispersal and Fates of Seeds of the Winter Annual Grass Vulpia Ciliata

1) Vulpia ciliata is a short winter annual grass that occurs primarily amongst open vegetation on sandy soils and shingle in southern and eastern England. In such habitats it is often found in disturbed areas alongside tracks and paths. Dispersal occurs as a result of wind or mechanical disturbance fracturing the diaspores from the spikelets on the infructescence. The aim of this study was to examine the dispersal and fates of the seeds of V ciliata and compare them with those of the closely related V fasciculata. 2) In a population relatively undisturbed by people the mean dispersal distance of diaspores from infructescences of V. ciliata sprayed with paint was 6 cm