Seedling Regeneration Process of <i>Sasa veitchii</i> var. <i>tyugokuensis</i> Over 12 Years Following Small‐Scale Flowering

ABSTRACT Sasa species (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) typically regenerate following synchronous mass flowering and die‐off. However, small‐scale flowering is often observed and its contribution to seedling recruitment has been overlooked. To examine the ecological significance of small‐scale flowering, we investigated the regeneration process of Sasa veitchii var. tyugokuensis from small‐scale flowering to seedling establishment over 11 years, and to vegetation recovery in the 12th year. Seven genets flowered over an area of 2300 m 2 . The flowering culms subsequently died, whereas the nonflowering culms remained in two of the flowered genets, indicating that they only partially flowered. Of the emerged seedlings, 83% died within the first 2 years and 5.8% (0.1 genets/m 2 ) survived for 11 years. Genets with greater initial growth and higher heterozygosity exhibited higher survival rates. However, seedling cover remained low even after 12 years, and nonflowered Sasa culms from the surrounding area had expanded into the seedling cover area. The pattern of initial high mortality was similar to the regeneration process after mass flowering, while seedling growth was slower after the small‐scale flowering event. Seedling regeneration may only occur in areas free from the expansion of nonflowered Sasa culms. These findings suggest that small‐scale flowering contributes to the regeneration of Sasa species and reduces the risk of regeneration failure associated with monocarpy and mass flowering.