FENOLOGÍA DE CUATRO ESPECIES DE CACTÁCEAS DEL CERRO UMARCATA. VALLE DEL RÍO CHILLÓN. CANTA-LIMA. PERÚ

Abstract

Four species of cacti found in the Cerro Umarcata, Chillon River Valley, Canta-Lima arid ecosystem were studied. Phenological patterns for flowering and fruiting were recorded for Espostoa melanostele, Haageocereus pseudomelanostele subsp. aureispinus, Melocactus peruvianus and Neoraimondia arequipensis subsp. roseiflora between October 2006 and September 2007. Eight phenological stages were identified. For flowering, “Wilted Flower” and “Aborted Flower Bud” were the most common phenological stages. For the fruiting phenophase “Mature Fruit” was observed at low frequency during the study. Temperature was positively correlated with the frequency of “Wilted Flower”, “Developing Fruit”, “Mature Fruit” and “Dehiscent Fruit”. Relative Humidity was positively correlated with the “Flowering Bud”, “Open Flower”, “Developing Fruit” and “Immature Fruit”. phenological stages