1982 Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 219-226
When the areal expansion of a M. sinensis patch amounted to about 1000 cm^2 after which there was a declivity in numbers of new peripheral shoots, annual mean increments in raduis of patch area decreased by 2.7 from 4.2 cm. Such a larger patch, furthermore, tended to decrease its possessory area four years of the study. A patch area increased markedly for six months from early summer to late autumn, but in July to August the rate of areal increments or of shoot gains once descended surely because of the decline or delay of secondary tillering at the exterior subarea of the patch, especially among larger patches. While the rate of shoot losses at the exterior subarea of a larger patch was lower in May to June and higher in July to August ; at the interior subarea the reverse took place. Therefore, in mid-summer, a reducing area increased markedly.