1 Recognizing Individuals of Plant Populations

3 Fatima Grace S. Tambaoan

4 Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños

5 fstambaoan@up.edu.ph

7 ABSTRACT

8 Aims

9 This study aimed to differentiate and recognize genets from ramets, differentiate

10 phalanx and guerilla module formation, recognize the module formation exhibited by

11 different plants and explain the influence of environmental factors to the growth

12 formation of plants.

13 Methods

14 The study was done by observing eight (8) different species of plants found

15 around University of the Philippines Los Baños. In each genet of the plant, mother and

16 daughter ramets were located. The distance of daughter ramet from each other and from

17 their mother ramet was measured. Thereafter, the growth pattern of each ramet was

18 identified. Other environmental factors was also noted during the observation.

19 Important Findings

20 Plants undergo different growth formation as a strategy and adaptation to their

21 environment. A single species of plant can undergo both phalanx and guerilla formation
22 or just one from the two. They are highly affected by their environment. Space and

23 amount of nutrients available are some of environmental factors affecting growth

24 formation of plant.

25 Key words

26 Clonal plants, phalanx, guerilla, ramet, genet

27 Results

28 There were eight (8) species of plants observed around the campus namely:

29 Ivory cane palm (Pinanga coronata), bamboo (Bambusa sp.), traveller’s palm

30 (Ravenala sp.), Canna sp., Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.), palmera, banana (Musa sp.),

31 and Adiantum sp. The data collected from these plants is summarized in Table 1.

32 Table 1. Different parameters on the different plant species observed

Species Ave. distance Ave. distance Type of No of

of daughter of daughter growth form daughter
ramets to ramets to (guerrilla or ramets
mother ramet daughter phalanx)
(m) ramets (m)

Pinanga NDA 0.1650 phalanx >10

sp.

Bambusa NDA 0.0541 phalanx >10

sp.

Ravenala 0.3680 0.1840 phalanx <10

sp.

Canna sp. 0.0620 NDA phalanx <10

Axonopus 0.0385 NDA guerrilla >10

sp.

Palmera 0.3750 0.4000 phalanx <10

 Musa sp. 0.0623 NDA phalanx <10

Adiantum 18.4 NDA guerrilla >10

sp.
33 Legend: NDA- No data available

34

35

36

37

38

39

40 Figure 1. Ivory cane palm (Pinanga coronata)

41 Figure 1 shows the genet of the ivory cane palm which was observed to have

42 numerous ramets. The mother ramet of this plant was not identified since every ramets

43 are almost of same height and color. The average distance of selected daughter ramets

44 from each other is 0.165 m. The longest distance taken was 30cm and the shortest was

45 8cm.

46

47

48

49

50
51 Figure 2. Bamboo (Bambusa sp.)

52 Figure 2 shows the genet of bamboo (Bambusa sp.) with its numerous ramets.

53 Mother ramet of this plant was also not identified since most of them were observed to

54 be relatively of the same age. Distances (in m) of selected daughter ramets with each

55 other are was measured. The average of their distances is 0.0541 cm. The longest

56 distance taken was 50 cm and the shortest was 3 cm.

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64 Figure 3.1. Traveller’s palm (Ravenala sp.)

65 Each of the four (4) erected plants seen in Figure 3 were considered as an

66 individual genet of the traveller’s palm (Ravenala sp.). One of the four genets was

67 selected as a mother ramet. There were eight (8) daughter ramets surrounding the

68 selected mother ramet. The average distance of the daughter ramets to each other and to

69 their mother is 0.1840m an 0.3680m respectively.

70

71
72

73

74

75

76

77

78 Figure 4. Canna sp.

79 There were five (5) mother ramets identified in the Canna sp. shown in Figure 4.

80 Each mother ramet had less than ten (10) daughter ramets. The average distance of

81 daughter ramets from their mother ramets is 0.0620m.

82

83

84

85

86

87

88 Figure 5. Carabao grass (Axonopus sp)

89 Figure 5 shows the genet of carabao grass in where three (3) mother ramets were

90 identified. Each mother ramet is surrounded by more than ten (10) daughter ramets. The

91 average distance between a mother ramet to daughter ramet is 0.0385m.

 92

93

94

95

96

97

98 Figure 6. Palmera

99 Figure 6 shows the genet of a palmera plant. From this genet, the mother ramet

100 was identified based on the height and modular markings. The mother ramet was the

101 highest and had the most modular markings. There were less than ten (10) daughter

102 ramets observed. The average distance of daughter ramets from each other and their

103 mother is 0.4000m and 0.375m respectively.

104

105

106

107

108

109

110 Figure 7. Banana (Musa sp.)

111 There were five (5) mother ramets observed from the banana plant (Musa sp.)

112 shown in Figure 7. Each mother plant had less than ten (10) daughter ramets around it.

113 The average distance of the daughter ramets from their mother ramets is 0.0623m.

114

115

116

117

118

119 Figure 8. Adiantum sp.

120 The genet of Adiantum sp. shown in Figure is embedded in a cement wall

121 making them exposed to sunlight. Only one mother ramet was observed in this species.

122 There were more than ten (10) daughter ramets observed.The average distance of the

123 daughter ramets to their mother ramet is 0.1840m.

124

125 Discussion

126 Plant with numerous ramets are called clonal plants. These kinds of plants can

127 vary in their growth formation. It can be either phalanx or guerilla (Gurevitch, et. al.,

128 2006). Phalanx species are those that clumped together and confers strong resistance to

129 the invasion of competitors (Slade & Hutchings 1987). On the other hand, guerilla

130 species shows strong lateral spread ability that allows them to quickly forage for and
131 colonize free spaces (de Kroon & Hutchings 1995). These plants reproduce asexually.

132 They grow by adding repeated units called modules.

133 In this study, Pinanga coronata and Bambusa sp. were observed to have

134 numerous ramets that are close to each other. These plants exhibited phalanx formation.

135 In the case of Pinanga, the plant was enclosed with rocks and cement giving

136 them limited space to occupy. Moreover, it was also surrounded with other plants such

137 as ferns and peanut plant that became their competitors for space causing them to

138 clumped together. Hence, they exhibit phalanx formation.

139 The Bamboo (Bambusa sp.) also exhibited phalanx formation. It is located near

140 a parking lot and is bounded by cement. Due to the cement boundaries, they were only

141 able to occupy limited space.

142 Other plants observed exhibiting phalanx formation are the traveller’s palm

143 (Ravenala sp.), palmera, Canna sp. and banana (Musa sp.) It is assumed by the

144 researcher that these plants were cultivated in locations preferred by the cultivator.

145 Their current location also affected the growth form they are exhibiting.

146 The palmera plant in this study exhibited phalanx formation. It is bounded by

147 cement and is surrounded by grass, as a consequence, they only have limited space to

148 occupy and furthermore, they have competitors for both space and nutrients.

149 The Ravenala sp. observed in this study is located in an open grassy ground near

150 the road. These plants had four (4) genets or four (4) mother ramets that were cultivated

151 away from each other with an average distance of 3.25m. If these four (4) genets or

152 mother ramets are to be considered, their distance shows a guerilla formation. However,
153 if the distance of mother ramets to their daughter ramets is considered, they exhibit

154 phalanx formation.

155 The Canna sp. observed is located near the announcement board of the College

156 of Economics and Management, UPLB, which covers the plant with its shadow causing

157 the plant to receive minimal sunlight. Moreover, the board does not only limit light

158 source but also, poles of the board inhibits growth of more ramets.

159 The cultivate banana (Musa sp.) exhibited phalanx formation. The mother

160 ramets observed were close to each other due to limited space. Also, the daughter

161 ramets are near their mother. There are other plants surrounding it which limits their

162 space to occupy.

163 From the eight plant species observed, two (2) species were identified to exhibit

164 guerilla formation: the Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.) and Adiantum sp.

165 The Carabao grass (Axonopus sp.) is located in a place that is highly disturbed

166 by humans. There were also ants disturbing it during the observation. Due to these

167 disturbances, the three (3) mother ramets observed were far from each other. This plant

168 thus exhibited guerilla formation.

169 The Adiantum sp. is embedded in a cement wall and is creeping with moss and

170 other plant competitors. Due to the presence of these competitors, one daughter ramet to

171 another becomes distant from each other. Their competitors can also be classified as

172 guerillas since guerilla forms are more likely to co-occur with other guerrillas.

173 Moreover, their long thin stem is also an evidence for the guerilla formation (Lambio,

174 et.al., 2015).

175
176

177 The study of Hua ye, Hai-yu and Dong (2006) supported the hypothesis that a

178 plant can exhibit both phalanx and guerilla formation. In their study, as nutrients supply

179 increase, the proportion of clumping ramets in L. secalinus also increased while

180 spreading ramets decreased. Trade-off between guerrilla and phalanx formation existed

181 in the clonal grass L. secalinus, in response to resource availability. Therefore, a plant

182 species can exhibit both phalanx and guerilla depending on environmental factors such

183 as phalanx and guerilla.

184

185 References

186 de Kroon, H. and Hutchings, M.J. 1995. Morphological plasticity in clonal plants: the
187 foraging concept reconsidered. Journal of Ecology.
188
189 Gurevitch, J. and Gordon, F. 2006. The Ecology of Plants. 2nd Ed. Sinauer Associates
190 Inc., US
191
192 Hua-ye, X., Hai-yu, F and Dong, M. 2006. A Trade-off Between Guerrilla and Phalanx
193 Growth Forms in Leymus secalinus Under Different Nutrient Supplies. Annals
194 of Botany, Volume 98, Issue 1
195
196 Lambio, IAF, VC Cuevas and PE Sajise. 2015. A Guide to the Laboratory Exercises in
197 Plant Ecology. Environmental Biology Division, Instiute of Biological Sciences,
198 CAS,UPLB
199
200 Slade, A.J. and Hutchings, M.J. 1987. The effects of light intensity on foraging in the
201 clonal herb Glechoma hederacea. Journal of Ecology.
202
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