Phenomorphology and Eco-morphological Characters of Rhododendron Lauroid Forests in the Western Mediterranean (Iberian Peninsula, Spain)

Abstract

The evergreen broad-leaved forest of Rhododendron ponticum represents a special type of Mediterranean vegetation because of their relict nature (allegedly pre-glacial, Southern-Iberian and Pontic) and connection with Macaronesian-Atlantic flora. The findings of ecomorphological (growth forms) and phenological (phenology) studies point to characteristics typical of its relict character and its relationship with subtropical lauroid vegetation (greater forest stratification, larger leaves, high percentage of photosynthetic stems, scarce tomentosity, pre-flowering in a season different to Mediterranean species and closeness of autumn-winter flowering species). There are, however, links with typical Mediterranean vegetation (Quercus L. forests) that surrounds the Rhododendron stands, due to its adaptation to Mediterranean climate (sclerophyll leaves, plant and leaf duration, post-fire regeneration, fleshy fruit and fruit setting-seed dispersal seasonality). Within the community, different groups of plants show different adaptations to the same biotope, suggesting their distinct paleo-phytogeographical origins. The results confirm the singularity of this vegetation within the typically Mediterranean environment where it grows and its connections with other extra-Mediterranean types.

Parallel evolution of insular Olea europaea subspecies based on geographical structuring of plastid DNA variation and phenotypic similarity in leaf traits

“…Indeed, it is expected that they are more closely related to the lauroid leaf phenotype typically described under subtropical environments (e.g. larger leaves; Pérez Latorre & Cabezudo, 2006) than to the sclerophyllous leaf phenotypes displayed under Mediterranean environments . We specifically test (1) whether the strong geographical isolation associated with these subspecies is reflected in a marked phylogeographical structure of plastid DNA, (2) whether similar oceanic environments have led to a similar expression in two relevant functional traits (leaf size and specific leaf area) and (3) to what extent differentiation in plastid lineages is associated with differentiation at the phenotypic level.…”

“…Indeed, it is expected that they are more closely related to the lauroid leaf phenotype typically described under subtropical environments (e.g. larger leaves; Pérez Latorre & Cabezudo, 2006) than to the sclerophyllous leaf phenotypes displayed under Mediterranean environments (Rubio de Casas et al. , 2009).…”

Invasive aliens threatened with native extinction: examining best practice for species translocations under climate change

“…5 m) accuracy with a handheld GPS. Field records were combined with spatial coordinates obtained from literature sources Perez Latorre & Cabezudo, 2006;Mejías et al, 2007). This combined dataset consisted of almost 200 unique occurrence points that were mostly non-aggregated in space (i.e.…”

Biological Flora of the British Isles: Ruscus aculeatus

“…The shoot appeared above‐ground in late March (stage V), and, in central Italy, reached adult height within a week but were very thin and pale and continued developing until mid‐July (de Lillis & Fontanella ; Martínez‐Pallé & Aronne ). Cladodes are not shed individually in the autumn since the shoots grow and die as a whole, with a life span of 14–26 months (Pérez‐Latorre & Cabezudo ).…”

“…Within this period, the timing of peak flowering varies widely and has been recorded as October–November in southern Italy (Martínez‐Pallé & Aronne ) and (November) January–April in the British Isles (Kay & Page ; Clapham, Tutin & Moore ). Others have recorded R. aculeatus flowering twice in the same year (October–December and again from early February/mid‐April to the end of May) in Italy (de Lillis & Fontanella ; Aronne & Wilcock ), or even flowering ‘practically all year round’ (Pérez‐Latorre & Cabezudo ). This variation is partly due to different flower buds on the same cladode opening at different times.…”