Schinus terebinthifolia is a dioecious tree native to South America that has become an invasive weed in Florida, southern California, southern Arizona, Texas and Hawaii and has been naturalised in over 20 countries. Biological control is considered a viable long‐term control option for S. terebinthifolia because release from natural enemies appears to be at least partly responsible for its success in Florida. We examined leaf phenology of S. terebinthifolia over a period of 15 months at five sites in central and southern Florida to provide information that may help in predicting the impacts of potential biocontrol agents for this weed. We documented leaf lifespan, the seasonality of leaf development and abscission and the survivorship of leaves that emerged during either spring, summer or autumn. Average leaf lifespan was >4.5 months at all sites, and leaf phenology followed the seasons closely. Although S. terebinthifolia possesses leaves throughout the year, leaf production was greatest from April to September, and most leaves were abscised in February and March. Spring‐ and summer‐emerging leaves were also longer‐lived than leaves produced during autumn. These results suggest that leaves of S. terebinthifolia would be most vulnerable to herbivory during the spring and summer months when newly growing leaf tissue is most plentiful. Biocontrol agents capable of damaging these tissues during spring/summer might be an effective means of controlling this invasive weed.

中文翻译：

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入侵灌木 Schinus terebinthifolia 的叶寿命、物候和季节动态

Schinus terebinthifolia 是一种原产于南美洲的雌雄异株树，已成为佛罗里达州、加利福尼亚州南部、亚利桑那州南部、德克萨斯州和夏威夷的入侵杂草，并已在 20 多个国家归化。生物控制被认为是 S. terebinthifolia 可行的长期控制选择，因为从天敌释放似乎至少是其在佛罗里达州成功的部分原因。我们在佛罗里达州中部和南部的五个地点在 15 个月的时间里检查了 S. terebinthifolia 的叶子物候学，以提供可能有助于预测潜在生物防治剂对这种杂草的影响的信息。我们记录了叶子的寿命、叶子发育和脱落的季节性以及春季、夏季或秋季出现的叶子的存活率。平均叶片寿命>4。在所有地点 5 个月，叶片物候密切跟随季节。虽然S. terebinthifolia全年都有叶子，但4-9月产叶量最大，2-3月大部分叶子脱落。春夏新叶的寿命也比秋天长。这些结果表明，S. terebinthifolia 的叶子在新生长的叶组织最丰富的春季和夏季月份最容易受到食草动物的侵害。能够在春季/夏季破坏这些组织的生物防治剂可能是控制这种侵入性杂草的有效手段。大部分叶子在二月和三月脱落。春夏新叶的寿命也比秋天长。这些结果表明，S. terebinthifolia 的叶子在新生长的叶组织最丰富的春季和夏季月份最容易受到食草动物的侵害。能够在春季/夏季破坏这些组织的生物防治剂可能是控制这种侵入性杂草的有效手段。大部分叶子在二月和三月脱落。春夏新叶的寿命也比秋天长。这些结果表明，S. terebinthifolia 的叶子在新生长的叶组织最丰富的春季和夏季月份最容易受到食草动物的侵害。能够在春季/夏季破坏这些组织的生物防治剂可能是控制这种侵入性杂草的有效手段。