We compared the flowering and fruiting phenology of Symphytum tuberosum L. (Boraginaceae), Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard (Liliaceae) and Melittis melissophyllum L. (Labiatae) in a beech wood and an oak wood situated in the same valley, taking into account their different microclimatic and edaphic characteristics and carrying out correlation and simple regression analyses. Differences observed in the phenological cycles of the species studied included earlier flowering and longer cycles in the oak wood, except for H. non-scripta. The most important climatic factors were soil moisture and the relative humidity, followed by temperature and the number of daylight hours and photosynthetically active radiation (P.A.R.). The M. melissophyUum cycle depended mainly on water availability, H. non-scripta on solar radiation, soil moisture and a temperature threshold value, while no specific climatic parameter was found to affect S. tuberosum. Temperature was found to be less important than previously believed as it seems only to correlate with S. tuberosum flowering. The strong correlation observed in the fruiting of the three species indicated clear synchronization.

The analysis has been carried out by means of activities/parameters relational matrixes. Twenty one "types" corresponding to five environmental parameters were considered. A two-step system of capability assessment was used, evaluating first seven generic activities an then five specific ones.

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