Indirect evidence that masses of seeds don’t disperse > 5m from source plants. Soil seed bank and seedling densities from two randomly located belt transects that extended 30 m through a patch of artichoke thistle and 43 m into adjacent grassland. a) Mean (± SE) germinable seed densities/m² from soil samples collected in early October, 1997, 1998, and 1999 every 10 m along belt transects. b) Mean numbers of artichoke thistle seedlings/m² (+ one SE) observed in months of highest rainfall during 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-00 seasons. Data were collected in one m² quadrats every 5 m in the thistle patch, then every meter into the grassland (31 – 73 m) along the two belt transects.