The Phenology Handbook - USA National Phenology Network

Phenological monitoring is facilitated by first noting two features of all flowering plants:
• Floral architecture or inflorescence type - are flowers clustered in inflorescences, or are they
borne singly?
• Habit - is the plant herbaceous (non-woody) or woody? Is the plant a shrub or a tree?
FLOWERING ARCHITECTURE
Whether a plant produces solitary flowers or inflorescences will change the way that flowering phenophases are
determined and recorded. See the Phenophase Quick-Guide and the list below to examine these effects. Below
are illustrations of the major inflorescence types that you are likely to encounter. Once you identify the inflorescence
type of your targeted species, simply find the appropriate cell in the Quick-Guide to find the quick
definition of each leafing or flowering phenophase.
To help orient you when examining flowers on an unfamiliar plant, the following illustrations show a variety of
floral displays you may encounter. Compare the illustrations to the photos in the “Field Guide to Coal Oil Point
Natural Reserve” in this Handbook, and to photos in other field guides, to feel more comfortable in the field.
To help simplify your experiences in the field we have categorized inflorescences by general appearance. Once
you identify the inflorescence type of your targeted species, simply find the appropriate cell in the Phenophase
Quick-Guide to find the quick definition of each leafing or flowering phenophase.
SOLITARY FLOWERS
Solitary flowers are borne singly on stems. The California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica,
is an example.
SPIKE-LIKE INFLORESCENCES
Spike
Elongated inflorescence in which flowers are arranged in a linear manner along
the stem and are attached directly to the main stem (pedicels, or stems connecting
flowers to the stem, are absent). Flowering typically begins at the bast of the
spike and progresses upward.
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