An ecophysiological study in the field layer of ash coppice. II. Experiments with Geum urbanum and Cirsium palustre in different light intensities

The influence of different light intensities on the vegetative growth and C02-exchange characteristics of Cirsium palustre and Geum urbanum were studied in order to give a possible explanation for the different behaviour of the two species in the ash coppice cycle. The shade avoiding species C. palustre showed shade tolerant characteristics, whereas the species which avoids exposed conditions, G. urbanum. grew well in full daylight. Although there were some minor differences between the two species, the influence of light intensity on vegetative growth gives no sufficient explanation for the observed phenomena in the coppice cycle.