Growth-rates of some West African Forest-tree Seedlings in Shade

The growth of seedlings of three West African forest-tree species;Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn., Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev.,and Chlorophora excelsa (Welw.) Benth. was compared with thatof Helianthus annuus in shade to complement an earlier studyof seedlings in full daylight. Growth-analysis techniques wereused to show that there is no great disparity between the woodyplants and Helianthus in adaptation to light since both requirehigh light intensities (above full daylight under the experimentalconditions) for maximum growth. It was concluded from this thatthe woody habit, rather than differential adaptation to light,is mainly responsible for the lower growth-rates of the woodyplants when compared with Helianthus. The high light requirementof the tree seedlings is consistent with their role as pioneersin regeneration of the natural West African forest.