J Plant Res. 2011 May;124(3):359-69. doi: 10.1007/s10265-010-0386-6. Epub 2010 Dec 9.
To determine the main benefits of clonal expansion of Miscanthus sinensis patches (monoclones), we observed the annual pattern of the areal expansion of a number of M. sinensis patches and examined how the quantity of rhizomes in such patches is related to changes in their basal area. To forage for nutriments, a patch must continuously widen its habitat. Patches annually expanded centrifugally by sympodial branching of short rhizomes, which originated in tillering that occurred more than once a year. However, the basal area of the patches approached a ceiling as the patches aged. Both the number and the weight of rhizomes in the patches continued to increase as long as the basal area expanded. The mean weight of rhizomes in patches also initially increased quickly, but then reached a ceiling as the clones expanded. Similarly, the amount of reserve substance per shoot in the patches increased asymptotically along with the clonal expansion, depending on the rhizome mass allotted to each shoot. These results suggest that, in the clonal growth of M. sinensis patches, the accumulation of reserve matter in the rhizomes is more important than foraging in new areas.
为了确定芒属（Miscanthus sinensis）无性系分株扩展的主要优势，我们观察了一些芒属分株的面积年度扩展模式，并研究了分株中根茎数量如何与其基面积变化相关。为了寻找养分，分株必须不断扩大其栖息地。分株通过短根茎的合轴分枝每年离心扩展，这些短根茎起源于每年发生一次以上的分蘖。然而，随着分株的老化，其基面积接近上限。只要基面积扩展，分株中的根茎数量和重量就会继续增加。只要分株扩展，分株中根茎的平均重量也会迅速增加，但随后达到上限。同样，随着克隆扩展，每个芽分配的根茎质量决定了芽中储备物质的含量呈渐近增加。这些结果表明，在芒属无性系分株的克隆生长中，根茎中储备物质的积累比在新区域觅食更为重要。
