Reproduction
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American Mountain Ash can reproduce both sexually and
asexually. Asexual reproduction is seen when the top of an
American Mountain Ash is cut down or killed, it will sprout from
the stump left. Sexual reproduction happens by seed.
The main distributors of the seeds are generally birds.
The average time that a seed is ingested and then defecated by a
bird is only about 30 minutes. This indicates that the
dispersal of seeds may or may not have a wide range. The
range can vary from a few hundred feet to a few miles.
(Index of Species Information, 1992.) Once the seeds are
dispersed, they generally require approximately 60 days of cold
stratification around 33-41 degrees Fahrenheit. (American
Mountain Ash, 2006.) Stratification stimulates the natural
conditions that a seed must undergo before it germinates. The
seedlings are quite hardy, so they aren’t very susceptible to
insects or disease and therefore generally grow up healthy.
The highest rate of reproduction for the American Mountain Ash
is often seen in birch, fur and/or spruce communities.
(American Mountain Ash, 2006.)
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