Surprising strategies that are a spectacle: how do plants prepare for spring?
You have probably, while walking at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, been surprised to see a tree completely “bare” (without leaves), but at the same time full of flowers. As if it seemed they were in a hurry to wake up…
This very curious phenomenon has a name and is a true plant strategy. In botany, a plant is called proteranthous when it flowers before producing its leaves.
Why do they do this? It is simple: without the “noise” of leaves around, the flowers are much more visible to pollinators. In this way, they ensure their reproduction. In addition, they avoid the competition for energy between flowering and foliage growth.
However, nature has more tricks up its sleeve. There are even more surprising plants that present a phenomenon called cauliflory. The name comes from caulis (trunk) and flos (flower), and it consists in flowers (and later the fruits) growing directly from the main trunk or from the oldest branches. It is a brilliant solution: it allows pollinators that move close to the ground or that are not flying (such as ants) to easily find the flowers and, moreover, the thicker branches can support the weight of heavy fruits without the risk of breaking.
How can you tell them apart without being an expert?
It is easy to remember if we think about the moment and the place:
Proteranthy (the moment): The flowers appear before the leaves.
Cauliflory (the place): The flowers appear directly from the bark of the trunk or old branches.
Although sometimes they coincide in the same plant, they are independent phenomena. For example, many tropical trees are cauliflorous, but they keep their leaves all year round.
At Marimurtra you can see this spectacle live: we have true specialists in these strategies. If you visit us soon, look for the delicacy of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or the myrobalan plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’), or be surprised by the strength of the Japanese quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) and the imposing floss silk tree (Ceiba speciosa). The next time you come across one of these trees, remember that they are not only flowering, they are showing a very well-thought-out way of doing things in order to survive.
