Table 3

Effects of microsite, seed cover, and protection on growth characteristics of Asclepias humistrata (sandhill milkweed) seedlings 52 weeks after direct seeding into backdunes of coastal Alabama on 6/9/2019. Seeds were placed in a microsite under a scrub oak canopy of Quercus geminata (sand live oak) or Q. myrtifolia (myrtle oak), on the gulf-side edge (drip line) of coastal scrub or in an open area gulf-side of coastal scrub. Seeds were covered with 2 cm of sand or nearby litter (Quercus leaves). Seeds were either unprotected or protected with PVC pipes (7.6 cm length and 10.2 cm diameter) buried to ½ their height above ground, protected with 1.27 cm wire-mesh that was bent to form square cages positioned approximately 3.5 cm above seeds, or protected with both pvc and wire mesh cages.