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Abstract

Phenology is the study of the time series of biological phenomena of plants, such as flowering, fruiting, and leaflessness, related to seasonal change. Ethiopia is rich in vascular plant species. However, the tree phenology of selected species has been less studied. Therefore, the study aimed to document the phenology of nine native tree species in the Gera moist Afromontane forest in southwest Ethiopia. Forty-five mature trees (five of each species) were selected and numbered according to their species. The intensity of flowering and fruiting was assigned to four different classes. PAST software (version 4.03) and Microsoft Excel (version 2016) mapped phenological phases and durations. Almost all leaf growth occurs throughout the year for the studied tree species. Different phenophases of flowering for Ficus sur, Polyscias fulva, and Croton macrostachyus were seen from February to June. On the other hand, for Millettia ferruginea, Allophylus abyssinicus was seen from September to January. Finally, for Bersama abyssinica, Syzygium guineense, and Olea welwitschii were seen from December to April. Most of the tree species (Ficus sur, Millettia ferruginea, Bersama abyssinica, Albizia gummifera, Syzygium guineense, and Olea welwitschii) made fruit from December to the end of May. Polyscias fulva, Croton macrostachyus, and Allophylus abyssinicus made their fruiting from June to December. We did not know any flowering stage for Albizia gummifera during the study period. A species-specific phenological study of native tree species is important for understanding the physiological aspects of the Gera forest. Long-term periodical observations on plant phenology will be required for the studied species.

Article History

Received: Jan 13, 2025; Accepted: Sep 09, 2025; Published: Sep 30, 2025

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