Data from: Seed germination strategies reveal naturalization potential: Global insights from European herbaceous species

Abstract

This dataset includes primary seed germination records for 1,146 herbaceous species native to temperate Europe, derived from 18,596 laboratory tests. For each seed lot, the dataset reports the number of seeds tested, the number of germinated seeds, and the conditions under which each test was conducted: temperature, alternating temperature, cold and warm stratification, light, and seed scarification. For each species, the dataset also provides biogeographic information on global naturalization occurrence and extent, and on the number of regions where naturalization has been reported in each of three macroclimatic zones: temperate, tropical dry, and tropical humid regions. Information on seed origin, seed lot identifier, contributor, and country of collection, and the country where each test was carried out, is also provided. The dataset allowed us to test whether seed germination traits, in terms of their responses to different germination cues, are related to the naturalization success of native European temperate herbs outside their native range. Using these data, we found that naturalized species show higher germinability, germinate at lower temperatures, and respond strongly to seed scarification compared to species that have not become naturalized outside their native range, and that these traits are also positively related to the geographic extent of naturalization.