The Phenology of Osmunda claytoniana L. in Tataka area, Taiwan

The phenology of Osmunda claytoniana in Tataka area, Taiwan, including 38 plants of two populations, was investigated from April to October 2006. The processes of frond emergence, expansion, senescence, spore maturation and dispersion, and frond length were recorded. The results show that the fertile fronds emerged during late April and early May, whereas the sterile fronds emerged during May to late June. It took 25 to 45 days from frond emergence to full expansion. Spores matured in late May and mostly dispersed from late May to middle June. The numbers of fronds and average frond length of mature plants were significantly more than those of immature plants. The average frond length of the fertile fronds was not significantly higher than that of the sterile fronds. The growing season was from late April to October. The life span of fronds is 135 days in average. However, the pinnae bearing spores droop within 2 weeks after spore dispersed, whereas the other pinnae existed up to October.2006年4月至10月，研究人员针对中国台湾塔塔加地区的2个种群共38株分株紫萁（Osmunda claytoniana）开展了物候学调查。本次调查记录了蕨叶（frond）的萌发、伸展、衰老过程，孢子的成熟与散播过程，以及蕨叶长度。结果显示，可育蕨叶（fertile frond）于4月下旬至5月上旬萌发，不育蕨叶（sterile frond）的萌发期为5月至6月下旬；从蕨叶萌发至完全伸展所需时长为25至45天。孢子于5月下旬成熟，且主要散播时段为5月下旬至6月中旬。成熟植株的蕨叶数量与平均蕨叶长度均显著高于未成熟植株；可育蕨叶的平均长度与不育蕨叶并无显著差异。该物种的生长季为4月下旬至10月，蕨叶的平均寿命为135天。不过，承载孢子的羽片（pinnae）在孢子散播后的2周内便会下垂枯萎，而其余羽片则可存活至10月。