--- In UKBotany@yahoogroups.com, "British Marine Life Study Society"
<Glaucus@h...> wrote:
> Hello,
>
>
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/deps/ha/dmrb/vol10/section3/ha6793i\
.pdf
>
> As I have now confirmed that Hippocrepis comosa is a long lived
perennial
> with a low ability to spread from seed.
>

This document perhaps gives too simple a picture. Yes, it is long
lived and may go on for 40 years. It may live longest where seed
production is poorest (e.g. on Northern limestone, where the
preventing factor may be climate and not grazing). Seed _production_
is very variable: (10-)400(-2000) seeds per plant (a large plant can
produce over 200 inflorescences). Seed _germination_ if you are trying
to cultivate it (which seems to be what the document is talking about)
is poor if you don't chip the seeds but can be as good as 100% within
1 week if you do. In the wild the best estimates are that seeds will
germinate gradually over several weeks, with something under 5%
germination (not too bad for a long-lived perennial). From the
evidence of wild seedlings a little later in the year, most
germination is thought to take place in March or April.

Have a look at the Biological Flora monograph in Journal of Ecology
Vol. 61, pp. 915-926 (1973). It will also tell you that the prostrate
downland tetraploid race is not harmed by moderately heavy sheep
grazing and is resistant to moderate trampling, but doesn't persist
after ploughing or disturbance of the ground, or in areas grazed by
cattle.

- Martin