ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the phonological phases of cultivated Polygonatum by investigating the dynamic pattern of its growth and development, which would provide the guides for normal planting in the field. METHODS: Fix-point and real-time observation combining with comprehensive survey were used in the field. RESULT: Cultivated Polygonatum had obvious processes of development including emergence of seedlings, extension of leaves, growth of stems and leaves, floral initiation, flowering, seed setting, death of plant-germinating-in-spring, plant shoot regeneration and hibernating shoot emergence, and hibernation with dead aerial part of plant. There were small differences in these processes of development among species and sites, but the whole phonological pattern hold relatively constant. CONCLUSION: The phonological phases of Polygonatum with eight stages, including seedlings emergence stage, plant extension stage, leaves extension stage, anthesis stage, seed stage, aerial part death stage, germination-in-autumn stage, and hibernation stage, were finally determined.
