Abstract
Phenological studies of different species within a single family occuring in the same habitat, may help to understand the possible factors regulating the phenophases. During 14 months, we observed the vegetative and reproductive phenological patterns of ten understorey species of Rubiaceae of a Brazilian Atlantic forest, Nucleo Picinguaba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Leaf production and leaf fall occurred simultaneously in all studied species, throughout the observation period, resulting an evergreen appearance to the understorey. Flowering was also observed along the year, althougth the number of species flowering was higher during the wettest and hotest season. Our result contrasts with the seasonal flowering pattern observed for canopy species of Rubiaceae at the same area. The correlations between rainfall, temperature and Rubiaceae flowering were not significant. The fruit production was distributed along the study period, increasing at the end of the rainy season, resulting in a continuous availability of resources for frugivores. Reproductive phenological patterns differed among the Rubiaceae species in such a way that different factors seem to be regulating the phenophases of each species.
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