Phenologic patterns for 12 montane forest tree species in the Talamanca range, Costa Rica

The phenology of 160 individuals from 12 tree species of Costa Rica's montana forests were observed monthly during 49 months, in order to evaluate the following phenophases: flowering fructification and leafing (budding and falling). Different occurrence patterns were found for each event. Thus, flowering occurred continuously for one species but sub-annually for another. Four species showed annual flowering and the other six supra-annual flowering. Flowering was concentrated from November to May, at the end of the rainy season, and during the dry season. Fructification was continuous for three species, annual for two, and supra-annual for the other seven. There was more fruits production at the end of the dry season and during the first months of the rainy season. New leaf production was a very dynamic event: and highly synchronic for all evaluated species, showing annual rhythms for six of them. Leaf falling was a continuous event throughout the year, without abrupt changes for all species under evaluation.