Temperate flowering phenology

Abstract

Individuals, families, networks, and botanic gardens have made records of flowering times of a wide range of plant species over many years. These data can highlight year to year changes in seasonal events (phenology) and those datasets covering long periods draw interest for their perspective on plant responses to climate change. Temperateflowering phenology is complex, using environmental cues such as temperature and photoperiod to attune floweringto appropriate seasonal conditions. Here we give an overview of flowering phenological recording, outline differentpatterns of flowering, and look at the interpretation of datasets in relation to seasonal and climatic change. ©The Author [2010]. Published by Oxford University Press [on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.