Synchronous pulsed flowering in passion flower (Passiflora incarnata)

Abstract

Daily observations of the number of flowers blossom-ing per day of passion flower, Passiflora incarnata reveal synchronous pulsed flowering. There seems to be no direct correlation between the observed temporal oscillations in flowering and environmental factors like the change in temperature, humidity and photo-period. These temporal oscillations are characteristic of an open nonlinear dynamical system and are likely to arise from endogenous factors like the concentra-tion of a florigen and an anti-florigen. A modified Lotka model is shown to mimic the monthly periodicity and the annual recurrence.