Two shades of grey: effect of temperature on seed germination of the escaping ornamental species Lychnis coronaria and Stachys byzantina

This paper describes germination and cytological variability in two popular ornamental potentially invasive species, lamb’s ear Stachys byzantina rose campion Lychnis coronaria. Both xerophytic species have the potential to invade natural habitats across Europe create viable naturalised populations, with subsequent impacts on native vegetation. To assess species’ invasiveness, seeds were collected from populations was recorded under different temperature regimes. Flow cytometry, used record variability, indicated that all of both cytologically homogeneous. Germination success, an important means distribution factor significantly influenced by temperature, final L. coronaria being extremely high at temperatures > 15/10 °C (98.5%) low < 10/5 (2.9%). The S. is highest 22/15 (55.6% germinated seeds), reduced 40.3% 0.3% lower than °C. No significant differences observed between escaping non-escaping although there some particular populations. Our results indicate limits whose non-native areas include Central Europe. allows for successful generative reproduction over their ranges, suggesting these are likely become European grasslands soon.