Variation in Onset of Summer Dormancy and Flowering Capacity Along an Aridity Gradient in Poa bulbosa L., a Geophytic Perennial Grass

Summer dormancy and flowering in a geophytic grass

In Mediterranean climatic regions, summer dormancy allows plants to survive the hot and dry season. Ofir and Kigel (pp. 391-400) show that along a gradient of increasing aridity, populations of Poa bulbosa enter dormancy earlier, exhibit more intensive flowering and have leaf traits that impart better drought resistance.