Mean time to germination (MGT) is a measure of the rate and time-spread of germination; however, there is a problem with using this method to calculate germination rate. Using MGT is not correct for ANOVA, post-ANOVA or the other comparison tests, because it does not show time to a specific germination percentage. Thus, we recommend that t50 be used instead of MGT. The t50 has all benefits of MGT, but it does not have the problems of MGT in treatment comparisons.

The mistletoe flora of southern Western Australia (~26–35°S, ~113–129°E) was studied over a 30-year period, with a particular emphasis on distributions, host relationships and fire. The flora comprised 21 taxa in two families, Loranthaceae and Santalaceae. Species diversity was higher in more arid, inland areas than mesic coastal areas. Fire is prevalent through most of the area and is the most pervasive, but not the only threat.

In the South-west Australian Floristic Region, surviving the first-year summer drought is critical for successful seedling establishment in Banksia (Proteaceae). Predictions of a warmer, drier future, therefore, threaten population persistence. Here, we investigated the drought tolerance of two co-occurring Banksia species using seed collected from two different rainfall habitats and found both species and population differentiation in water-use strategies affecting plant mortality with soil drying. Considering differential sensitivity to water stress will, therefore, be important in conservation efforts.

Grasstrees are an endangered, iconic and important biodiversity value of central Victoria. The reintroduction of fire threatens remaining adult populations of the species, whereas fire enhances the likely success of seedlings. An understanding of recruitment along with strategic fire management is likely to define the survival of the species in Victoria.

Arsenic (As) contamination of sediments in mangrove forests is a growing environmental problem. This experiment evaluated the influence of sulfur (S) on As accumulation in mangrove seedlings. A 4 × 4 design of S × As treatments suggested that S can mitigate the toxicity of As to mangroves; As accumulation was inversely related to S concentration. Supplying S also altered the relative concentration of As forms in seedlings, namely As (V) and As (III), and significantly decreased their concentrations in roots.

Wetland forests at Yellingbo are home to the last remaining wild populations of the helmeted honeyeater and lowland Leadbeater’s possum and under threat from tree dieback and a lack of natural regeneration, putatively the result of prolonged waterlogging. I conducted flooding experiments to determine the flooding tolerance of E. camphora seedlings to inform hydrological works aimed at reducing waterlogging and restoring these critical wetland forests. While the ability of E. camphora seedlings to tolerate flooding is considerable (>12 months), conditions for E. camphora seedling establishment and growth are likely to improve as levels of flooding decrease.

Phenols from forage grasses may exert phytotoxicity on legume crops in intercropping systems. This study evaluated that phenolic compounds negatively affect the development and the root structure of Calopogonium mucunoides Desv. The roots of non-control individuals showed smaller lengths and greater diameter, as well as cell division in endodermis and pericycle, and premature differentiation of xylem and phloem fibres.

Seed germination of the Australian native rices, Oryza rufipogon and O. meridionalis, may be limited if seed dormancy is not broken by heating. Through this mechanism native rice dormancy is maintained and emergence supressed by introduced para grass. Emergence of wild rice was affected by changes to the soil and aboveground biomass structure due to swards of para grass.

Epiphytes are a prominent feature in Australian rainforests, yet there is a lack of comprehensive studies in this area. We examined the distributions of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes and found that species richness and composition of epiphytes showed distinct patterns over the height of the host tree and across an elevation gradient. This suggests that factors such as moisture, light and humidity, which vary over these gradients, may be the main contributors to determining epiphyte diversity in Australia’s subtropical rainforest.

Brachyscome ciliaris is unique in the Brachyscome genus, in that seeds are distinctly dimorphic. Seed morph did not affect seed germination or seedling growth but did influence dispersal. Dormancy, germination and seed yield characteristics were influenced more by seed provenance than by seed morph.