06/13/81 to 10/31/88
PURPOSE:
To determine annual temporal patterns of growth and reproductive stages of 29 selected species of grasses, forbs, and woody plants characteristic of a variety of habitats.
SPECIES AND LOCATIONS
Species selected were 1) dominant, 2) representative of all parts of the growing season, 3) representative of various life form and classification groups (such as C3 and C4 plants, grasses, forbs, and woody species), or 4) likely to have potential for indicator uses.
Andropogon gerardii, big bluestem
Andropogon scoparius, little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans, indiangrass
Boutelous curtipendula, sideoats grama
Panicum virgatum, switchgrass
Dicanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum, scribner panicum
Sporobolus asper var. asper, tall dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis, prairie dropseed
Poa pratensis, Kentucky bluegrass
Carex gravida var. lunelliana, heavy sedge
Carex meadii, Mead's sedge
Amorpha canescens, leadplant
Astragalus crassicarpus var. crassicarpus, groundplum milkvetch
Dalea purpurea var. purpurea, purple prairieclover
Schrankia nuttalli, catclaw sensitivebriar
Aster ericoides, heath aster
Lomatium foeniculaceum var. daucifolium, carrotleaf lomatium
Salvia pitcheri, pitcher sage
Liatris punctata, dotted gayfeather
Solidago missouriensis var. fasciculata, Missouri goldenrod
Cornus drummondii, roughleaf dogwood
Baptisia australis var. minor, blue wildindigo intermixed
Baptisia bracteata var. glabrescens, plains wildindigo
Tripsacum dactyloides, eastern gamagrass
Rhus glabra, smooth sumac
Agropyron smithii, western wheatgrass
Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera, eastern cottonwood
Celtis occidentalis, common hackberry
Quercus muehlenbergii, chinquapin oak
FREQUENCY OF SAMPLING:
Approximately weekly during the growing season, typically early April to late November. Observations began in mid-June in 1981 and ended on October 31, 1988.
VARIABLES MEASURED:
Dates of the following stages were recorded:
1) Initiation of growth
2) Duration of flowering (anthesis)
3) Fruit mature (fully developed and ripe)
4) Leaves more than 90% dry
METHODS:
The phenological condition of the species were grouped into three categories: 0-5%, 5-20%, and greater than 20%.