Phenology of castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) in the city of Diamante in the Province of Enter Ríos.

GARCÍA,M.S.; RODRIGUEZ, E.; LATORRE, F. & SÁNCHEZ, A.

biocell

www.cricyt.edu.ar

Lugar: Rosario; Año: 2015 vol. 2015

The phenological studies together with the aerobiological approaches enable to study the relationship between reproductive phenology of the species and periods of pollination, as well as the permanence of pollen in the atmosphere. In this sense a study of floral phenology of the species Ricinus communis was carried out in the urban and peri-urban area of the Diamante city, Entre Rios Province. R. communis (common name: castor bean) is an exotic shrubby species of great interest: it is very common in the urban environment because of its invader capacity and its pollen grains have high allergenic potentiality. Ten plants were observed twice a month, along one year. Each day of monitoring, the flowering phenophases of selected shrubs were registered. The information obtained it is shown in a graph which displays the phenological changes that consist in: vegetative state (without flower buds), presence of flower buds (beginning of flowering), presence of some open flowers (the flowering is in a increasing phase), all open flowers (peak of bloom), flowers starting to wither (decline of flowering) and early fruiting and no flowers (end of flowering). This information is intended as a useful tool for studies of human health given that this pollen type might cause symptoms of respiratory allergies in sensitive people during great part of the year.