Research was conducted to determine percentage excretion and germination or viability of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris Cass. # CJNVU) achenes fed to sheep (Ovis aries), cattle (Bos taurus), deer (Odocoileus hemionus), horses (Equus cabullus), and Chinese pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). No achenes were found in the feces of sheep. Horses (nonruminant), deer, and cows (both ruminant animals) excreted 5, 3, and 25%, respectively, of the achenes consumed. The mean percentage achene excretion for pheasants was 23%; however, excretion was highly variable among individuals. All achenes excreted by any test species were detected within 5 days after consumption. The percentage germination or viability of excreted achenes ranged from 29% (cows) to 81% (deer). The percentage of consumed achenes that were excreted and viable ranged from 2 to 7% for large animals, whereas it was 17% for pheasants.

The influence of depth (0 to 20 cm) and duration (1 to 31 months) of burial on the deterioration, germination, and viability of common crupina (Crupina vulgaris Cass. ♯ CJNVU) was investigated in the field. Germination and decay of achenes prior to removal from the field were greater at 0- to 10- (7%) and 0- to 15- (21%) cm burial depths than at the 20-cm burial depth for 1980 and 1981 seedlots, respectively. After 25 months of burial, 41 and 26% of the achenes had not deteriorated for the 1980 and 1981 seedlots, respectively. Germination was greatest for nondeteriorated achenes recovered from 3- and 20-cm (63%) and least for the 10-cm burial depth (44%). Common crupina achenes recovered from the field over 25 months of burial exhibited a pronounced periodicity of germination, which was related to induced winter dormancy. The viability of achenes decreased linearly from 90 to near 0% over 31 months of burial.