Abstract
The object of this study is to explain the factor upon the flowering of 5 forest herbs in an non-clearcutting coppice forest, and to consider an appropriate vegetation management. This study was conducted in coppice forest that is managed by a non-clearcutting method in Tokyo, Japan. The canopy consisted of deciduous broad-leaved trees. I investigated the light condition of the study sites and growth (plant size traits, flowering rate) of five species (Aster scaber Thunb., Viola grypoceras A. Gray, Ployma leptostachya L., Ophiopogonjaponicus Ker-Gawl., and Liriope plaiyphylla Wang et Tang) from springto autumn in 2000 and 2006. The relative PPFD on the forest floor was 55% in spring and about 5% from early summer to autumn. There was a high correlation between plant size and flowering rate (η2 = 0.455-0.628). The flowering rates were very low to relatively high (0-50.0%) for all five study species. A. scaber did not flower in both years because plant size cannot increase in this light condition. These results suggest that non-clearcutting management cannot be flowered all species. Therefore, appropriate management of coppice forest need to include clearcutting method.
