USA-NPN
Plant Phenology Program
Developing a plant profile
Table of contents
(Click on any line of the table of contents to go that section in the document.)
Introduction
What is a plant profile?
Steps to a plant profile
Useful web references for plant profile development
General references
Good links for photos
Good links for grasses
Good links for invasive plants
Other useful links
Citations
Appendix ANPN Phenophase events and BBCH codes
Appendix BPlant profile: Descriptive template
Appendix CPlant profile: Phenophase events
Cactus
Conifer
Deciduous, flower first
Deciduous, pollen only
Deciduous, leaf first
Evergreen broadleaf
Herb
Grass
Introduction
The USA-National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) National Coordinating Office (NCO) facilitates the development of standard protocols and methods for phenology monitoring across the nation. As part of the NCO, the Plant Phenology Program has developed a plant profile for each plant species currently in the program including “calibration” and “regional-focal” species, as well as additional plant species for regional networks and for specialized phenology projects. Calibrations species are a set of 20 plants distributed across the USA that are monitored to provide patterns of plant phenophase responses nationwide. Regional-focal species are a larger set of plants with regional or local importance but limited distribution that are monitored to provide regional patterns of plant phenology. To promote and develop consistent plant protocols the NCO has developed this document to guide people in developing additional regional-focal or specialized plant profiles.
The document is a work in progress; we welcome your comments at .
What is a plant profile?
A USA-NPN plant profile provides descriptive information, phenophase event descriptions, and instructions on how to observe those phenophase events. Any person or group that wishes to participate in the USA-NPN will use these plant profiles as part of their field monitoring. If a plant profile does not exist for a species of interest, the NCO encourages knowledgeable participants to help by compiling a profile for consideration and review by the USA-NPN.
Plant phenology monitoring consists of observations of specific phenophase events that occur during the growth stages in the seasonal cycle of a plant. USA-NPN currently recognizes twelve growth stages, modified from Meier (2003). Those growth stages are:
- Emergence
- Budburst
- Leaf or needle out
- Stem elongation
- Leaf or needle elongation
- Flower or cone development
- Flowering or pollen release
- Fruit or seed development
- Fruit ripening or seed maturation
- Leaf color change
- Leaf fall
- Senescence
Not every species will experience these growth stages in a single year, and the growth stages will not occur in the same order for every species. It is the occurrence and timing of specific phenophase events within these growth stages that USA-NPN participants note, record, and document.
Each plant profile will have phenophase events described at two levels of monitoring intensity, “core” events and “intensive” events. The core events are a basic set of phenophase events which all participants are encouraged to observe. Observing core events requires some botanical knowledge, but takes less time and/or expertise than observing the intensive events. The intensive events include some additional phenophase events appropriate for observation by researchers and/or participants with more time and more advanced botanical skills. Project BudBurst, a citizen science field campaign collaborating with the NPN, asks observers to monitor a subset of the “core” events; more information about Project BudBurst is at
A third class of phenophase events are described in “specialized” plant profiles. A specialized plant profile includes a set of phenophase events or event definitions that describe phenophases that are different or more detailed than core and intensive phenophase and are specific to a particular research or monitoring need (e.g., Monarch Watch has a particular set of phenophase events they are interested in for determining resources for Monarch butterflies). Specialized profiles are developed in consultation with the Plant Phenology Program; please contact us for more information about developing specialized plant profiles for your network.
Each of the USA-NPN phenophase events is assigned a BBCH code within the USA-NPN Phenology Database. The BBCH is a coding system widely used in Europe to identify unique phenophase events (Meier 2003, also see Use of the BBCH code facilitates comparisons across other phenological monitoring programs. See Appendix A for a cross-walk between USA-NPN phenophase events and BBCH codes.
Steps to a plant profile
The initial preparers of the plant profile are referred to as the profile compiler(s). The recommended steps for compilers to prepare a profile are:
- The compiler confirms the plant species of interest with NCO and that a profile is not in development already. Please submit the species scientific and common names, the USDA Plants or ITIS code, a brief justification as to why this plant should be included as an NPN ‘calibration’ or ‘regional-focal’ species, and a brief description of the individual or team of people who would prepare the profile.
- Use the descriptive template (Appendix B) as the guide to developing the descriptive material for the profile. Some descriptive templates already exist or are in development. Be sure and ask if a template exists for your species.
- Select the phenophase event template (Appendix C) that is appropriate for the life form of the plant you are working with. These standard phenophase event descriptions for each life form may describe your plant exactly, but in some cases, the phenophase events may need revision to fit the botanical characteristics of your plant. We suggest that you look at an existing profile for a species in the same life form as an example. Examples of existing profiles are on the USA-NPN web site.
- The compiled plant profile is version 0.draft; submit it to the Plant Phenology Program contacts (above). Members of the Plant Phenology Program and/or the USA-NPN Species Protocol Working Group will review the draft.
- After review and revision, we will post the plant profile on the USA-NPN web site as a beta version.
Useful web references for plant profile development
General references
USDA Plants Database; get taxonomic, plant code, distribution info, and sometimes photos
ITIS taxonomic database; get taxonomic info and TSN code
Jepson Manual; California, western U.S.
Flora of North America; covers U.S. by family; not all families are completed to date
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York Metropolitan Flora Project; for the eastern U.S.; not all plants are completed
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory; focuses on Fire Effects for species across the U.S.; if the plant is on this site it has lots of good information to use
USFS Silvics manual for Conifers
USFS Silvics manual for Hardwoods
North Dakota Tree Handbook
680 Tree Fact Sheets, University of Florida; covers a wide southeastern area
Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, Herbarium, University of Wisconsin; covers a wide northern area, with great photos
Virginia Tech, Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resources; covers a wide eastern area, with great photos
Floridata; covers a wide eastern area
Project Budburst; limited species, but good info
OpenKey, Illinois - North Carolina Collaborative Environment for Botanical Resources; limited species with good descriptions; good photos
Trees and Shrubs of North Dakota, North Dakota State University; northern species
Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina, Will Cook’s Web Site; southeastern species
NDSU, Selected North Dakota and Minnesota Range Plants
North Dakota Tree Information Center, North Dakota Tree Handbook
UConn Plant Database of trees, shrubs, and vines; northeastern species and ornamentals
Utah State University, Forestry Extension
North Carolina State University, NC Cooperative Extension
University of New Hampshire Extension; general search on the site for bulletins, etc.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture; use search
Native Plants of South Texas; has trees
University of Texas at Austin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; has trees
the publication Arnoldia; use search
MissouriPlants.com; great site
The Gymnosperm Database
Good links for photos
CalFlora; great photos
Bioimages, Vanderbilt University; great photos
Forestry Images: Forest Health, Natural Resources & Silviculture Images; may need to sign up for use (no requirements); great photos
Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point; great photos
The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, The Noble Foundation Plant Image Gallery; great photos
Image Archive of Central Texas Plants
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Photographs of Flowering Plants of theOzarks and the interior highlands of North America
Good links for grasses
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Glossary for “Growth of a Wheat Plant”; terminology for grasses and phenology
Intermountain Herbarium, Grass Manual on the Web; great info for grasses
Grasses of Iowa
Oklahoma Forages; grasses
Oklahoma Forages; can look at grasses or legumes
Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois
Purdue University; Agronomy Extension; search
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Grassbase – The Online World Grass Flora
Tropical Forages
Duke, J.A. 1983. Medicago sativa L.; Handbook of energy crops
Good links for invasive plants
The Nature Conservancy; Element Steward papers
Global Invasive Species Database
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide
Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules of the U.S.
USDA Forest Service, Forest Health, Weed of the Week
Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plants, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
University of Florida, IFAS
Invasive.org
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University and Ronald Calhoun; MSU Turf Weeds.net
Kansas Department of Agriculture
Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide
University of California; Agriculture and Natural Resources; IPM Online
Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
Weeds of the North Central States; Bulletin 772
Weed Management in Nursery Crops, Dr. James Altland
Weedy Wildflowers of Illinois
Other useful links
Central Washington Native Plants; Plant Gallery
Colorado State University Extension, Natural Resources
Electronic Forest Autecology Project
Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center
National Park Service; search
Auburn University, Horticulture Department, Plant Identification Resource
Rangeland Ecosystems & Plants
Utah State University, Range Plants of Utah
Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University, Seed ID Workshop
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Germplasm Resources Information Network
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Germplasm Resources Information Network; GRIN taxonomy
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Germplasm Resources Information Network; GRIN taxonomy for plants
U.S. Forest Service, Woody Plant Seed Manual
Arizona Biomes; Native Plants of Arizona
Kansas Wildflower and Grasses
Wildflowers of the Southern U.S.
Wildflowers of Alabama
Weedy Wildflowers of Illinois
Wildflowers of Southern California, A photographic gallery
Montana Plant Life; scientific names of plants
Montana Plant Life; many categories to search
Atlas of Florida; Vascular Plants; by family
The Pennsylvania Flora Project
The University of Texas at Austin; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Laurentian Environmental Center, Learning in the Outdoors
Michigan Bee Plants
Ontario Wildflowers
USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
V Plants, A Virtual Herbarium of the Chicago Region
Prairie Restoration, A Digital Aid Featuring Seeds, Seedlings, and Fruits
Tennessee Valley Authority, Riparian Restoration
Oklahoma Biological Survey
Ohio State University, OSU Pocket Gardener
A Flower Garden of Macroscopic Delights
Arboretum, Salisbury University
Digital Flora of Texas, Vascular Plant Image Library
F.R. Newman Arboretum, Cornell Plantations
Goodwell and Texhoma, Oklahoma, Pasture and Roadside Plants
Illinois Natural History Survey; Ken Robertson
NDSU Agriculture and University Extension; Education Materials
Ontario Wildflowers
Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Ferns, & Trees; great site
The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, Economic Botany
Weed Management in Nursery Crops, Dr. James Altland
Illinois Natural History Survey
Tim McDowell, East Tennessee State University
The Ladd Arboretum and Evanston Ecology Center
University of Michigan, Dearborn; Native American Ethnobotany
Citations
Meier, U. Phenological growth stages. In: Schwartz (ed.). Phenology: An integrative environmental science. Kluwer Academic Publishers. The Netherlands. pp 269-283.
Appendix ANPN Phenophase events and BBCH codes
BBCH code / Growth stage / Protocol / Phenophase09 / Budburst / Conifer / Budburst (conifer)
09 / Emergence / Herb / Emergence above ground
10a / Leaf out / Deciduous-flower first / First leaf (3 locations)
10a / Leaf out / Deciduous-leaf first / First leaf (3 locations)
10a / Leaf out / Deciduous-pollen only / First leaf (3 locations)
10a / Leaf out / Conifer / First needles (conifer)
10a / Leaf out / Lilac-honeysuckle program / First leaf (lilac/honeysuckle)
10a / Leaf out / Evergreen broadleaf / Leaf out
10e / Leaf out / Lilac-honeysuckle program / Full leaf out
35 / Stem elongation / Conifer / 50% stem elongation (conifer)
39 / Stem elongation / Conifer / Full stem elongation (conifer)
43 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-flower first / 25% leaf elongation (trees)
43 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-pollen only / 25% leaf elongation (trees)
43 / Leaf elongation / Evergreen broadleaf / 25% leaf elongation (evergreen)
45 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-flower first / 50% leaf elongation (trees)
45 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-leaf first / 50% leaf elongation (trees)
45 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-pollen only / 50% leaf elongation (trees)
45 / Leaf elongation / Evergreen broadleaf / 50% leaf elongation (evergreen)
47 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-flower first / 75% leaf elongation (trees)
47 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-leaf first / 75% leaf elongation (trees)
47 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-pollen only / 75% leaf elongation (trees)
47 / Leaf elongation / Conifer / 75% needle elongation (conifer)
47 / Leaf elongation / Evergreen broadleaf / 75% leaf elongation (evergreen)
49 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-flower first / Full leaf elongation (trees)
49 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-leaf first / Full leaf elongation (trees)
49 / Leaf elongation / Deciduous-pollen only / Full leaf elongation (trees)
49 / Leaf elongation / Evergreen broadleaf / Full leaf elongation (evergreen)
51 / Cone development / Conifer / First male cone (conifer)
51 / Flower development / Specialized / First flower bud (1 location)
60 / Flowering / Deciduous-flower first / First flower (3 locations)
60 / Flowering / Deciduous-leaf first / First flower (3 locations)
60 / Flowering / Deciduous-pollen only / First pollen released (angiosperm
3 locations)
60 / Pollen release / Conifer / First pollen released (conifer)
60 / Flowering / Herb / First flower (1 location)
60 / Flowering / Lilac-honeysuckle program / First bloom (lilac)
60 / Flowering / Specialized / First flower (1 location)
60 / Flowering / Evergreen broadleaf / First flower (3 locations)
65 / Flowering / Deciduous-flower first / Full flower
65 / Flowering / Deciduous-leaf first / Full flower
65 / Flowering / Lilac-honeysuckle program / Full bloom (lilac)
65 / Flowering / Evergreen broadleaf / Full flower
67 / Flowering / Deciduous-flower first / Last flower
67 / Flowering / Deciduous-leaf first / Last flower
67 / Flowering / Herb / Last flower
67 / Flowering / Lilac-honeysuckle program / End bloom (lilac/honeysuckle)
67 / Flowering / Specialized / Last flower
67 / Flowering / Evergreen broadleaf / Last flower
71 / Fruit development / Specialized / First fruit (1 location)
89 / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-flower first / First fruit ripe (3 locations)
89 / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-leaf first / First fruit ripe (3 locations)
89 / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-pollen only / First fruit ripe (3 locations)
89 / Fruit ripening / Herb / First fruit ripe (1 location)
89 / Fruit ripening / Specialized / First fruit ripe (1 location)
89 / Fruit ripening / Evergreen broadleaf / First fruit ripe (3 locations)
89c / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-flower first / 50% fruit ripe
89c / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-leaf first / 50% fruit ripe
89c / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-pollen only / 50% fruit ripe
89c / Fruit ripening / Evergreen broadleaf / 50% fruit ripe
89e / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-flower first / All fruit ripe
89e / Fruit ripening / Deciduous-pollen only / All fruit ripe
89e / Fruit ripening / Evergreen broadleaf / All fruit ripe
92a / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / First leaf colored (3 locations)
92a / Leaf color change / Deciduous-leaf first / First leaf colored (3 locations)
92a / Leaf color change / Deciduous-pollen only / First leaf colored (3 locations)
92b / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / 25% of leaves colored
92b / Leaf color change / Deciduous-leaf first / 25% of leaves colored
92b / Leaf color change / Deciduous-pollen only / 25% of leaves colored
92c / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / 50% of leaves colored
92c / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / 50% of leaves colored
92c / Leaf color change / Deciduous-leaf first / 50% of leaves colored
92c / Leaf color change / Deciduous-pollen only / 50% of leaves colored
92d / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / 75% of leaves colored
92d / Leaf color change / Deciduous-leaf first / 75% of leaves colored
92d / Leaf color change / Deciduous-pollen only / 75% of leaves colored
92e / Leaf color change / Deciduous-flower first / All leaves colored
92e / Leaf color change / Deciduous-leaf first / All leaves colored
92e / Leaf color change / Deciduous-pollen only / All leaves colored
93 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / First leaf fallen (3 locations)
93 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-leaf first / First leaf fallen (3 locations)
93 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-pollen only / First leaf fallen (3 locations)
93 / Leaf fall / Conifer / First needles fallen (conifer)
93 / Leaf fall / Evergreen broadleaf / First leaf fallen (evergreen, 3 locations)
94 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / 25% of leaves fallen
94 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-leaf first / 25% of leaves fallen
94 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-pollen only / 25% of leaves fallen
95 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / 50% of leaves fallen
95 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / 50% of leaves fallen
95 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-leaf first / 50% of leaves fallen
95 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-pollen only / 50% of leaves fallen
96 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / 75% of leaves fallen
96 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-leaf first / 75% of leaves fallen
96 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-pollen only / 75% of leaves fallen
97 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-flower first / All leaves fallen
97 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-leaf first / All leaves fallen
97 / Leaf fall / Deciduous-pollen only / All leaves fallen
97 / Senescence / Herb / All leaves senesced
Appendix BPlant profile: Descriptive template
This template provides the items that appear in the descriptive part of the plant profile in the order and placement in which they occur in the profile. The text in italics indicates that you substitute the appropriate text. Gray highlight indicates notes and instructions on how to fill out a particular item. Delete the gray highlight as you compile the profile.