Variation in autumnal growth of hermaphroditic clones of Glechoma hederacea originating from two geographical regions and two habitats

Eight hermaphroditic genotypes of Glechoma hederacea originating from two habitats and two geographical regions were compared under greenhouse conditions to test for differences in growth at the end of the vegetation period. During the 90 days of the experiment the plants developed primary stolons and secondary stolons, the latter up to four (rarely six) per node. Stolon lengths, mean internode length, mean leaf blade width and mean petiole length on primary stolons as well as the number of nodes, mean internode length and stolon length of the first two secondary stolons initiated at a node were genotype-dependent. The number of nodes and rooting nodes, mean internode length, stolon length and number of growing tips on the second pair of secondary stolons were population-dependent. No indication of ecotypic differentiation in clonal growth was found. The hypothesis suggesting that genotypes with short internodes and a high intensity of branching should dominate populations growing under high light levels (i.e. in meadows) was not supported.