RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FLOWERING PHENOLOGY, PLANT SIZE AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN LOTUS-CORNICULATUS (FABACEAE)

Over three years the flowering phenology of individuals of Lotus corni culatus has been studied in relation to fruit set and seed predation t o determine the relationships between four components of flowering tim e, plant size and reproductive success. Timings of first and peak flow ering, and duration and synchrony of flowering differed between indivi duals in the same years. Between years, timing of first flowering was highly correlated for the same individuals, and was closely correlated with plant size and duration of flowering-larger plants flowered earl ier and for a longer period. Peak flowering and synchrony were not cor related between-years for individuals. Fruit production and seed preda tion were correlated with some of the components of flowering phenolog y in some years, but not in others. The inconstancy of these relations hips suggests that directional or stabilising selection is not acting consistently on the aspects of reproductive success studied in this wo rk. The inconstancy of selection may result in the rather asynchronous flowering phenologies of individuals of L. corniculatus observed. We emphasize the importance of studying different components of flowering phenology in relation to individual plant size over several seasons. This work has shown that plant size not only has a direct effect on in dividual plant fecundity but also can influence flowering time and hen ce indirectly affect reproductive output.