Flowering and fruiting phenology of a xerochamaephytic shrub community from the mountain of Mallorca (Balearic islands, Spain)

A study of the flowering and fruiting phenology was undertaken for twenty species of the xerochamaephytic communities that characterize the mountain-crest areas of the island of Majorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The flowering period of the species considered extends from March to November, with the majority flowering during the spring and early summer, and a peak in June. The flowering duration at the species level is longest for Rosmarinus officinalis var. palaui (which flowered in spring and autumn) and was shortest for Genista majorica and Rubia balearica. In this community, three strategies were observed that may serve to reduce interspecific competition between pollinators: 1) pollination specialization of white-pink flowers; 2) high diversification of yellow flower pollinators; and 3) the divergence in flowering time of less common flower colours. The flowering duration of individual plants and whole populations are positively correlated, which may indicate that individuals of each population optimize the time which is phenologically useful. The flowering of the spiny cushion species of the community is characterized by a smaller intraspecific overlap in comparison to the other species examined. © 2004, Kluwer Academic Publishers.