The Society for the Study of Phytogeography and Taxonomy
Abstract
The leaf phenology for a tree community was investigated in a beech（Fagus crenata）forest characterized by heavy winter snows in central Japan. A tree community of seventeen species（dbh≧5 cm ; 202 trunks total）in a 0.5 ha stand was observed at an interval of 1―4 weeks during the growing seasons of 1999（thaw period was early May ; early year）and 2003（thaw period was late May ; average year）. As for an understory community （height < 10 m）, in the early year, beech flushed two weeks later than other species（e.g. Acer nipponicum, Acer japonicum and Cornus controversa）after the thaw. However, beech completed flush very quickly and was able to compete with the other species effectively. In the average year, beech and other species flushed at the same time with beech reaching full flush earliest. Therefore, beech is able to dominate over other woody species in forests characterized by heavy winter snows for two reasons : 1）young beech flush speed ; 2）delayed flush period of other species remaining in snow pack
