Phenologic patterns for 12 montane forest tree species in the Talamanca range, Costa Rica

The phenology of 160 individuals from 12 tree species of Costa Rica's monta na forests were observed monthly during 49 months, in order to evaluate the following phenophases: flowering fructification and leafing (budding and f alling). Different occurrence patterns were found for each event. Thus, flo wering occurred continuously for one species but sub-annually for another. Four species showed annual flowering and the other six supra-annual floweri ng. Flowering was concentrated from November to May, at the end of the rain y season, and during the dry season. Fructification was continuous for thre e species, annual for two, and supra-annual for the other seven. There was more fruits production at the end of the dry season and during the first mo nths of the rainy season. New leaf production was a very dynamic event: and highly synchronic for all evaluated species, showing annual rhythms for si x of them. Leaf falling was a continuous event throughout the year, without abrupt changes for all species under evaluation.