A study of the flowering phenology of Taraxacum microspecies in some biotopes in The Netherlands as observed during three successive years

During three consecutive years (1980-1982) the flowering pattern of dandelion populations has been studied in five habitats. The time course of the main (spring) flowering period may vary in different years per plant and per population, partly due to differences in microclimate, but there are also genetically controlled differences between microspecies in the attainment of maximum spring flowering. In addition there may be appreciable differences in the late-flowering pattern, both between populations and individual plants. Per site, the seasonal periodicity may vary in different years. Apart from ‘normal’ years, there are also dandelion-rich and dandelion-poor years. The amount of sunshine in the spring is presumably partly responsible for such differences.