Data from: Early spring warming may hasten leaf emergence in Erythronium americanum

Premise of the study: Climate change is making spring arrive earlier than
in the past, causing some species to alter the timing of their spring
activities. This study addressed whether Erythronium americanum Ker Gawl.
(trout lily), a common spring ephemeral, can hasten its spring emergence
if exposed to early spring warming. Methods: I collected corms of E.
americanum in the fall, overwintered them in soil, and exposed them to
warming in either mid (early treatment) or late (late treatment) February.
The timing of leaf emergence was monitored and compared between
treatments. Key results: Leaves exposed to early warming emerged earlier
than those in the late treatment. Bud break happened closer to date of
exposure to warming in the late treatment than in the early treatment.
Conclusions: Spring ephemerals may be able to produce leaves early in
response to early spring warming induced by climate change. Risk of late
frost and eventual shading by the canopy may limit the duration of a
potentially extended growing season. Please be aware that if you ask to
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