Flowering phenology and the growth of three native Anemone species in a montane deciduous forest on Mt. Joongwang, Korea

Abstract

Anemone is a representative spring ephemeral in Korea, flushing immediately after the snow melts and flowering in early spring. This study investigated the spring flush, stem growth, flowering, and fruiting of three Anemone species (A. amurensis, A. raddeana and A. koraiensis) in a montane deciduous forest on Mt. Joongwang over two consecutive years (2014 and 2015). We sought to expand our understanding of the flowering phenology and environmental effects on growth of the species. The three species showed sequential flowering: A. amurensis flushed and bloomed first, followed by A. raddeana and A. koraiensis at 1-2 week intervals for about 37 days. The duration of flowering for each species was similar, and lasted about 24-25 days. High temperatures advanced plant emergence and the first-flowering time by 5-7 days in 2014 compared to 2015. The temperature at the time of first flowering for the three species was around 4.0°C. The mean environmental temperature during the flowering stage ranged from 5 to 10°C for all three species, indicating that they needed lower temperatures than common flowering cultivars in April. The plants grew to 13-18 cm for A. amurensis and A. raddeana, and 17-21 cm for A. koraiensis. The growth and flowering patterns of the three Anemone species indicate their potential for use as floriculture plants in cold seasons and early spring.