Früher Frühling – früher Herbst? Beobachtungen und Reflexionen zur Herbstphänologie

Abstract

The analysis of a great number of observations of autumnal phenology (90 907 records) reveals a rather diverse picture. Due to climate change and rising temperatures late-summer blossoming plants tend to bloom earlier. However, the few species which are true autumn-blossoming plants (Colchicum, Hedera) do not appear to change their seasonal timing. The leaf-fall of deciduous trees is much more influenced by local conditions than general weather phenomena. Within one species the end of the leaf-fall period is usually more clearly defined than the onset of the colouring of the leaves, which varies a lot more. Observations of these phenomena made in the 1980s might have contributed to the coining of the new term “forest blight”.