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Why be sympodial?
In PAN 11 you described monopodial growth. You also
attributed to it the advantage of being able to generate more terminal branches
and thus allow more cones, and thus flowers, which is an advantage in wind
pollinated species. However, there are other advantages. Some that immediately
come to mind include:
To grow tall you're better off being monopodial. Sympodial species must be able to support the thick stems which arise below each flower head. Monopodial species can rapidly grow long, thin stems and then produce side branches lower down where the stem is thicker. This allows much faster growth which should allow monopodial species to out-compete sympodial species.
Why then are proteas not into growing tall?
Why this reliance on sympodial growth?
Under what conditions is monopodial growth favoured in proteas?
You mentioned the reproductive advantages outlined above. A further advantage is that the flowers and seed heads are placed higher. This should favour pollination and allow for much longer seed dispersal. Why then are most of the proteas sympodial?
I look forward to hearing from any atlassers who discover the answer to this apparent contradiction
William Bond, Univ. Cape Town
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