Flowering Phenology at Big Run Bog, West Virginia

Abstract

In each of four major plant communities at Big Run Bog, a 15‐ha Sphagnum‐dominated wetland in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, the flowering phenology of 21 species was measured by counting the number of flowering stems at frequent intervals throughout the growing season. The four plant communities exhibited no consistent differences with regard to the patterns of flowering phenology. Mean flowering duration was 30 days for all species, and was 32 and 31 days for wind‐ and insect‐pollinated species, respectively. Peak flowering times for the 21 species were randomly distributed throughout the growing season. Results from Big Run Bog are not markedly different from those reported for other bogs in North America.