FLOWERING AND FRUCTIFICATION OF MONOCOTYLEDONS IN A VENEZUELAN CLOUD FOREST

The length and intensity of flowing and fruiting periods were studied in 28 monocotyledonous herbaceous species for three years in the cloud forest of Rancho Grande, Venezuela. Four basic flowering patterns occ ured: 1) One short flowering episode with sharp peaks. 2) Two independ ent flowering periods. 3) One long flowering period 6 to 11 months in length. 4) Continuous flowering throughout the year. The length of fru ctification periods shows three basic patterns: 1) All year long, 2) P eriods from 5 to 8 months. 3) Period of 4 months (only one species). T he following tendencies evident when flowering and fruiting periods ar e related: peaks are dephased; a short flowering period with long fruc tification periods lasting from 3 to 10 months and even some species h ave flowering and fructification all year. The group as a whole shows a flowering peak in July, while the fruiting peak occurs in August.