Abstract

This study covers the observation, recording and interpretation of the phenological behaviour of the local endemic Paeonia mascula (L.) Mill. subsp. bodurii Özhatay in its life cycle. Although phenological observations are mostly applied on cultivated plants, the data obtained from this study on an endemic taxon constitute an important resource for the preparation of a conservation action plan. While the phenological cycle time of the geophyte plant on the ground is determined as 206 days on average, it spends the winter months in dormancy with an average of 159 days underground. It was determined that the populations at lower altitudes in their natural habitats entered the flowering, fruit formation and seed maturation stages relatively earlier than those grown at higher altitudes and remained in these phenophases for longer periods. The total life cycle was more or less the same, although there were differences in phenophases durations and beginnings-ends.