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Abstract
Although winter-deciduous species are presumed to be "out-of-phase" with the mediterranean climate regime, distributional evidence suggests some taxa may be more tolerant of summer drought than evergreen sclerophylls. Deciduous species possess several features that confer advantage in extreme summer dry regions: drought-deciduousness, an efficient response to severe seasonal drought; high photosynthetic rates especially during the optimum late spring period; and a phenology similar to evergreens (but with more rapid growth) during the critical first year. I present a preliminary model of the relative importance of deciduous and evergreen plants in relation to climate, soils, and biotic influences.
Parent Publication
Citation
Blumler, Mark A. 1991. Winter-Deciduous versus Evergreen Habit in Mediterranean Regions: A Model. In: Standiford, Richard B., tech. coord. 1991. Proceedings of the symposium on oak woodlands and hardwood rangeland management; October 31 - November 2, 1990; Davis, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-126. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 194-197
