SAFE SITES AND THE REGENERATION OF CLETHRA-ALNIFOLIA L (CLETHRACEAE) IN WETLAND FORESTS OF CENTRAL NEW-JERSEY

Flowering phenology, seed set and dispersal, and seedling establishment patterns of Clethra alnifolia in three wetland forests are described. Flowering patterns were similar between years but differed among sites. Tagged shrubs had high rates of fruit set and most fruits persisted until seed dispersal. Seed fall and seedling distribution patterns suggested that seed are adequately dispersed from parent plants. Germination experiments showed high seed viability, but low numbers of seedlings at all sites suggested constraints on establishment. Significant differences were detected in seedling establishment success in different forest floor microsites. Availability of safe sites influenced the relative contributions of sexual and asexual reproduction to new recruitment. Environmental conditions in the wetland forest appeared unsuitable for successful seedling recruitment and Clethra appears to rely on vegetative reproduction to regenerate existing populations.