Study of flowering patterns of Campanula L. species using computer modeling

Long-term data on flowering phenology of 9 Campanula L. species were processed using computer modeling. Modified model is proposed to describe flowering of monocarpic shoots with multi-flowered inflorescences taking into account structural inflorescence features and morphogenesis of floral zone. The flowering patterns are determined by degree of inflorescence branching and sequence of flowers opening in them. It is shown that flowering curve for simple inflorescences is unimodal: it has single peak associated with opening of terminal flower and flowers on the 1st order axes. For compound inflorescences two maxima are noted (the second of them is due to opening of flowers on the 2nd order axes), or curve has wavy character. Regression curves describing sequence of flowers opening on the 1 st order axes are different. They are C-shaped if flowering begins in lower third of the inflorescence and then spreads divergently. More often terminal flower opens first, and is accompanied by several flowers in lower third of inflorescence, while next flowers open in divergent way. In this case the regression curves are S-shaped. The proposed model reproduces picture of individual flowering with natural variability, and can be used to describe flowering of various taxa of herbaceous plants with multi-flowered inflorescences.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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