Carpobrotus modestus (Aizoaceae), a post-fire pioneer in semi-arid southern Australia

Carpobrotus modestus is an inland succulent perennial with fleshy fruits. In a semi-arid area carrying tall mallee shrublands with a range of different fire histories, it was shown that C. modestus populations appear in the immediate post-fire period, then mature and die within 7 years as the regenerating mallee shrubland becomes taller and denser. This post-fire pioneer behaviour is also common in the related southern African Erepsia. In a germination trial of fresh C. modestus seed, all seeds remained dormant. However, seeds found in rabbit and grey kangaroo faeces germinated readily. Fire ecology and frugivory in subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae are briefly reviewed. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.