“Natural Areas Journal” (2007). Vol. 27 (1). p. 25-30.

In “Imbitbition and germination of seeds of Columbrina oppositifolia (Rhamnaceae), a federal-endangered tree species endemic to Hawaii,” Carol Baskin and her co-authors submit findings related to seed dormancy and germination in seeds of a very rare tree from Hawaii.  The researchers learned that seeds differ in the time when they first begin to take up water -- ranging from one to 20 days.  However, they found that within 30 days all the seeds incubated on wet sand at summer-like temperatures had taken up water and germinated. 

The results show there probably can not be a reserve of seeds in the soil in the natural habitat of the species because all the seeds would take up water and germinate in a relatively short time.  Therefore, restoration of this species can not rely on seeds in the soil.

Carol Baskin is a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology and Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Kentucky.  She earned her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include the life cycle ecology of plants with particular reference to the ecology, biogeography and evolution of seed dormancy and germination. She has co-authored a book, "Seeds: Ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination," and contributed to about 375 research articles on germination ecology and plant geography.