To understand the flowering patterns of a subtropical rainforest in Fushan, Taiwan, flower production in a 25-ha plot (Fushan Forest Dynamics Plot) was monitored at weekly intervals from Sept. 2002 to Aug. 2008. Flowering patterns of 46 taxa were examined and compared these patterns with the predictions of two hypotheses based on climatic and phylogenetic explanations.
Results/Conclusions
Community flowering patterns in the Fushan subtropical forest exhibited a strong seasonality, which coincided with variation in monthly temperature increment and total solar irradiance. The mean flowering times for 40% of taxa were in April and May. All taxa flowered periodically and their flowering intensity was highly concentrated in time. Phylogenetic constraints on flowering patterns were also observed. Mean flowering times were similar within families and orders, though concentration in flowering time was not influenced by the family membership. Predictions of climatic and phylogenetic hypotheses were met. More studies on flower induction and phylogenetic relatedness of this flora are required to evaluate the relative contributions of climatic factors and phylogenetic constraints on the flowering patterns.
