The leaf phenology of woody plants in the gallery forests (central Black Sea region, Turkey)

Abstract

We study the interactions between leaf emergence and leaf survival in four deciduous woody species of a Platanus orientalis gallery forest occurring in the central Black Sea region. We found Rubus discolor to be a flush leaf emergence type species. However, P. orientalis, Robinia pseudoacacia and Salix alba are intermediate leaf emergence type. Leaf durations of all species in the study area usually varied between 210-254 days. The species that have more bud scales show a tendency toward the shortening of leaf emergence duration. The peak of leaf fall was observed between November and December. Leaf fall was strongly seasonal and statistically significant differences were observed among months, species and localities in terms of leaf number.