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Climatic effects on the phenology of some geophytes rustic species

Article · January 2011

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Climatic effects on the phenology of some geophytes rustic species
M. Manda, C. Nicu
Department of Floriculture
University of Craiova
Keywords: geophyte rustic plants, phenology, climatic conditions

Abstract
Most rustic geophyte species have similar requirements concerning the ecological factors,
requiring light, permeable, well drained, and humus-rich soils, in a sunny or semi-sunny location. The
requirements regarding the temperature of the flowering plants from this group varies along the
vegetation period, the temperature being a key factor that correlates with the phases of vegetation; the
temperature level determines the starting of the main phenophases and also the duration of the decor
period. The insufficient water determines a reduced growth of floral stems, and in terms of light, the most
studied bulbous plants prefer sunny places, shady places causing the damage of the decorative aspect of
the flowers (Anton D., 2003, 2004, Toma F., 2009).
This paper aims to study the behaviour of some rustic geophyte plants from the phenological
point of view, of which some less used in the city of Craiova, and the determination of the decor period
according to different climatic conditions in the five experimental years. From the analysis of the average
values, it results that Hyacinthus orientalis and Tulipa fosteriana had the shortest decor duration (10.2,
10.4 days respectively), and the highest values correspond to Muscari armeniacum (30.2 days) and Allium
hollandicum (25.7 days) genera, less used in our area.

INTRODUCTION
Geophytes have a distinct position within the ornamental plants with their
underground stems, their durability against unfavorable environmental conditions, their
structure as a medical and aromatic plant, their ability to blossom in winter and early spring,
their aesthetic and decorative appearance, and the appeal that they give to the parks and
gardens in landscape design. Geophytes have a wide area of use, including but not limited to
settlement areas, parks and gardens, arboretums, building entries, garden walls, roadsides and
rock gardens (Seyidoglu and all, 2009).
They present a great diversity in terms of morphology, biology, genetic control and
response to environmental conditions (Hertogh AA DE and Le Nard, 1993, Flaishman and
Kamenetsky, 2006).
Thus, the geophyte flowering plants with spring flowering in the field, call in their
biological cycle the seasonal thermoperiodism according to the succession of temperatures as
hot-cold-hot. These species require the following temperatures scheme during the annual
biological cycle: during rest, in the summer, high temperatures of 20-23°C; for rooting of the
bulbs (fall) cold temperatures, 4-8°C; for intense vegetative growth and flowering, in winter
or spring, moderate temperatures, 10-18°C, depending on phenophase (Stursa J., 1997, Anton
D., Nicu C., 2006, Şelaru E., 2007, Toma F., 2009).
In our area the rustic geophyte flowering species are not sufficiently used in the
decoration of green areas, although they may be used in making spring-summer flower
compositions, together with biennial species and some perennial hemicryptophytes. Choosing
plants for flower compositions is done according to several criteria: type of landscape, size of
plants, flower type and colour, but especially depending on the period and duration of
flowering.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The analyzed biological material was represented by nine species of rustic geophyte
perennial flowering plants: Allium hollandicum, Crocus chrysanthus, Hyacinthus orientalis,
Iris pumila, Muscari armeniacum, Narcissus pseudonarcissus‚ Ornithogalum umbellatum,
Puschkinia scilloides, Tulipa fosteriana.
Analysis of the phenology. During the vegetation period there were performed
observations on the vegetation phases of rustic bulbous flowering species, based on which
there was determined the average number of days from the bud detachment to the beginning
of flowering, and the average number of days from the beginning until the end of flowering
(decor duration).
The perennial bulbous flowering plants behaviour was observed in the didactic study
field of the Floriculture discipline located in Craiova. The sector is located on a plane ground
with sandy-loam texture, away from air currents.
Analysis of climatic conditions. From the main meteorological elements there were
observed particularly the monthly and annual average temperature, total precipitations on
months and years, atmospheric humidity and the sunshine duration.
In terms of annual average temperature, which ranged between 10.8ºC in 2003, value
similar to the multiannual average level, and 12.4ºC in 2007, value which exceeds with 1.6ºC
the annual average temperature (10.8ºC). (fig.1)
In the analyzed period, the annual average temperature was below the multiannual
average in a single year (2005) and in three of the five years of experiment the annual average
values exceeded this value (2004, 2006, and 2007).
Regarding the amount of precipitation fallen in the five years of study, the obtained
values exceed the multiannual average (582 mm), but their distribution during the vegetation
period was uneven. (fig. 2)
In many critical moments, the plants have suffered because of hydric stress (the
summer of 2003, the spring of 2004), with an absolute need for irrigation, or because of
abundant precipitations (2005, 2007), with negative effects especially during the flowering
period.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The number of days from the bud detachment to the beginning of flowering varied
widely depending on the species and the very different climatic conditions in the period 2003-
2007, the values ranging between 4 days (Ornithogalum, Crocus) and 49 days (Hyacinthus)
(fig.3).
Making a comparison between the nine species belonging to different genera, Iris
pumila (after 5-12 days) and Allium hollandicum (after 6-12 days) have flourished most
quickly, both are very resistant species and less demanding in the flowering – climatic
conditions relationship.
The highest number of days until flowering corresponds to Hyacinthus orientalis
species (18-49 days). For Craiova climate zone there are great differences between the
flowering periods of the analyzed genera and species, emphasized by the climatic conditions
specific for each year.
The influence of the climatic conditions on the decor duration within the same genus
is obvious and may vary between 5-25 days for Iris pumila, 11-44 days for Allium
hollandicum or 20-54 days for Muscari armeniacum (fig. 4).
Making a comparison between the years in terms of flowering duration for the nine
analyzed species, it is observed that the best year in this regard was 2006 (9-54 days) followed
by 2007 (7-44 days); the shortest decor duration for the studied rustic bulbous species
corresponds to the year 2003 (5-20 days) characterized by low temperatures in January-March
(fig. 5).
In 2007, characterized as a warm year (12.4°C), but not a dry one (752.5 mm), at most
studied bulbous plants there were found: an advancement of starting of phenophases in
comparison to 2003, the differences being significant (with 50 days earlier at Crocus) and the
extension of the decor duration for some species (Muscari, Allium).
Analyzing the average duration of flowering for the period 2003-2007, it appears that
Hyacinthus and Tulipa genera had the shortest decor period (10.2, 10.4 days respectively) and
the highest values correspond to Muscari (30.2 days) and Allium (25.7 days) genera, less used
in our area (fig. 6).

CONCLUSIONS
Depending on the species and on the very different climatic conditions for the period
2003-2007, the number of days from the bud detachment to the beginning of flowering varied
widely, between 4 days (Ornithogalum, Crocus) and 49 days (Hyacinthus).
Making a comparison between the nine species belonging to different genera, Iris
pumila (after 5-12 days) and Allium hollandicum (after 6-12 days) have flourished most
quickly; both species are very resistant and less demanding in the flowering-climatic
conditions relationship.
The highest number of days until flowering corresponds to Hyacinthus orientalis
species (18-49 days).
In terms of flowering duration for the nine analyzed genera, it appears that the best
year in this regard was 2006 (9-54 days) followed by 2007 (7-44 days), the shortest decor
period for the studied rustic bulbous species corresponds to the year 2003 (5-20 days)
characterized by low temperatures in January-March.
The average duration of flowering for the studied bulbous flowering plants ranged
between 10-15 days (Hyacinthus orientalis, Tulipa fosteriana) and 25-30 days (Allium
hollandicum, Muscari armeniacum).

25
100

20
80

15
60

10
40

5
20

0
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
-5
2003-2007 1961-2004 2003-2007 1961-2004

Fig. 1. The monthly average temperature Fig. 2. The monthly average precipitations
(Craiova-Airport Weather Station) (Craiova-Airport Weather Station)
 20 03
60

20 04

50 20 05

20 06
40
20 07

30

20

10

0
Allium Crocus Hya cin thus Iris p umila Mu sca ri Narcissus Ornit hoga lu m Puschkinia Tulip a foste riana
ho lland icum chrysa nthus orientalis armen ia cu m pseu dona rcissu s umbellatum scilloides

Fig. 3. The number of days from the bud detachment to the beginning of flowering
of bulbous species in the period 2003-2007

60 2003
2004
50 2005
2006
40
2007

30

20

10

0
A llium Cro cus Hyacinthus Iris pumila M uscari Narcissus Ornitho galum P uschkinia Tulipa fo steriana
ho llandicum chrysanthus o rientalis armeniacum pseudo narcissus umbellatum scillo ides

Fig. 4. The flowering duration of rustic geophytes species studied

Allium holland icum Crocus chrysanth us

60 Hya cin thus orientalis
Mu sca ri armen ia cu m
50 Ornit hoga lu m umbellatum
Tulip a foste riana
40
Iris p umila
Narcissus pseud onarcissus
Puschkinia scilloides

30

20

10

0
20 03 2004 20 05 20 06 2007

Fig. 5. The flowering duration of perennial bulbous flowering plants studied

 35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Allium Crocus Hyacinthus Iris pumila Muscari Narcissus Ornithogalum Puschkinia Tulipa fosteriana
hollandicum chrysanthus orientalis armeniacum pseudonarcissus umbellatum scilloides

Fig. 6. The average flowering duration for the studied rustic geophytes species in the period
2003-2007

REFERENCES
Anton D., Nicu C., 2006 - Floricultură specială, Vol. I. Ed. Universitaria, Craiova.
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T.P.P.A., Vol. VI(XLII), p. 304-307.
Anton D., Nicu C., Mandă M., 2004 - The assortment diversification of the flower plants by
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Flaishman, M.A., and R. Kamenetsky, 2006 - Florogenesis in flower bulbs: Classical and
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