FLOWERING PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE FEATURES OF THE RARE PLANT EREMOSPARTON SONGORICUM IN DESERT ZONE, XINJIANG, CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2008.04.004

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Flowering phenology is considered as an important fitness factor because it plays a crucial role in reproductive success. Our aim is to investigate the flowering phenology of Eremosparton songoricum, the 3rd Class national protected dwarf shrub with a fragmented distribution in Gurrbantuggut Desert of Xinjiang, China, to better understand its reproductive features.

Methods We marked and observed 30 E. songoricum individuals with similar heights and crown diameters in the wild population of Cainan Oil Station in Gurrbantuggut Desert from 2005 to 2006. We observed the flowering course of each individual and inflorescence including the first flowering date, duration, mean flowering amplitude (flowers plant^-1∙d^-1) and last flowering date and then calculated relative flowering intensity and synchrony indices. We also analyzed relationships between first flowering date, median date, duration, last flowering date, flowering amplitude and flowering synchrony, the correlation matrix between first flowering date and duration, flower number and fruit set.

Important findings The flowering span of the population, individual, inflorescence and single flowering was approximately 26-29, 8-10, 5-7 and 2-3 d, respectively. None of the phenology index levels between 2005 and 2006 were distinctive. The synchrony index was 0.829. The relative flowering intensity showed one major peak from 10% to 30% and the skewness was 1.24. According to flower morphology and dehiscence, the typical single flowering process for a flower can be divided into four periods: pre-dehiscence, initial dehiscence, full dehiscence and withering. The correlation analysis among the first flowering date, duration, flower number and fruit number shows that 1) there is negative correlation between first flowering date and duration and a positive correlation to flower number and fruit number, 2) duration has a significant positive correlation to flower number and fruit number and 3) there is significant positive correlation between flower number and fruit number. Individuals with more flowers show a longer duration and more fruit than these with fewer flowers. As a rare plant in China’s desert zone,E. songoricumexhibits a so-called “mass-flowering” pattern, which may be regarded as an adaptive strategy to ensure its reproductive success.

Key words: Eremosparton songoricum, flowering phenology, relative flowering intensity, flowering synchrony, fruit number

MA Wen-Bao, SHI Xiang, ZHANG Dao-Yuan, YIN Lin-Ke. FLOWERING PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE FEATURES OF THE RARE PLANT EREMOSPARTON SONGORICUM IN DESERT ZONE, XINJIANG, CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2008, 32(4): 760-767.

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Figures/Tables 6

References 32

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观测项目 Observation items	种群水平 Population level		个体水平 Individual level		花序水平 Inflorescence level
观测项目 Observation items	2005	2006	2005	2006	2005	2006
始花日期 First flowering date (month-day)	5-24	5-25	5-27	5-31	5-29	6-2
花期持续时间 Duration (d)	29	26	10	8	7	5
开花高峰日期 Peak flowering date (month-day)	6-10	6-15	6-1	6-4	6-1	6-4
开花振幅 Flowering amplitude (No. of flower )	-	-	47	34	12	9
开花重叠(同步)指数 Flowering synchrony index	-	-	0.837	0.822	-	-
终花日期 Last flowering date (month-day)	6-21	6-19	6-5	6-7	6-4	6-7

观测项目 Observation items	种群水平 Population level		个体水平 Individual level		花序水平 Inflorescence level
观测项目 Observation items	2005	2006	2005	2006	2005	2006
始花日期 First flowering date (month-day)	5-24	5-25	5-27	5-31	5-29	6-2
花期持续时间 Duration (d)	29	26	10	8	7	5
开花高峰日期 Peak flowering date (month-day)	6-10	6-15	6-1	6-4	6-1	6-4
开花振幅 Flowering amplitude (No. of flower )	-	-	47	34	12	9
开花重叠(同步)指数 Flowering synchrony index	-	-	0.837	0.822	-	-
终花日期 Last flowering date (month-day)	6-21	6-19	6-5	6-7	6-4	6-7

时期 Stages	持续时间 Duration	旗瓣颜色变化 Standard petal changes in color	旗瓣展开情况 Standard petal opening situation	柱头与花药相对位置 Relative position of stigma and anther	花药开裂数 Dehiscence number of anther
前期 Pre-dehiscence	花前1~2天 One to two days before flowering	深紫红色 Dark fuchsia	未开 Close	柱头高于花药 Stigma is higher than anther	0
初期 Initial dehiscence	开花前半天 Half day before flowering	紫红色 fuchsia	微有小口至张开 Open a little	柱头近高于或低于花药Stigma is equal to or lower than anther	1~4
盛期 Full dehiscence	开花后半天 Half day after flowering	红色 Red	张开至与翼瓣垂直 Open and perpendicular with wing petals	柱头低于或近高于花药Stigma is lower than or equal to anther	5~9
凋谢期Withering	开花后1天 One day after flowering	淡紫色至白色 Light purple to white	向下卷曲 Curve downwards	柱头高于花药 Stigma is higher than anther	10

时期 Stages	持续时间 Duration	旗瓣颜色变化 Standard petal changes in color	旗瓣展开情况 Standard petal opening situation	柱头与花药相对位置 Relative position of stigma and anther	花药开裂数 Dehiscence number of anther
前期 Pre-dehiscence	花前1~2天 One to two days before flowering	深紫红色 Dark fuchsia	未开 Close	柱头高于花药 Stigma is higher than anther	0
初期 Initial dehiscence	开花前半天 Half day before flowering	紫红色 fuchsia	微有小口至张开 Open a little	柱头近高于或低于花药Stigma is equal to or lower than anther	1~4
盛期 Full dehiscence	开花后半天 Half day after flowering	红色 Red	张开至与翼瓣垂直 Open and perpendicular with wing petals	柱头低于或近高于花药Stigma is lower than or equal to anther	5~9
凋谢期Withering	开花后1天 One day after flowering	淡紫色至白色 Light purple to white	向下卷曲 Curve downwards	柱头高于花药 Stigma is higher than anther	10

	始花日期 First flowering date	花期持续时间Duration	开花数 Flower number
始花日期 First flowering date	-
花期持续时间 Duration	-0.254	-
开花数 Flower number	0.192	0.473^**	-
座果数 Fruit number	0.252	0.410^*	0.926^**