Delayed Seed Dispersal In California Deserts

Abstract Serotiny and delayed seed dispersal are thought to have evolved as traits allowing plants to cope with environmental variability. We conducted a literature search of serotinous desert plants in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in California and classified them according to their seed retention syndrome. Serotinous species in North American deserts have evolved similar seed retention syndromes as those of plants in other deserts of the world. Seed retention in deserts plants is a common seed dispersal strategy in arid ecosystems that allows plants to cope with environmental variability and unpredictability.