Phenological growth stages of Montpelier Rock-Rose Mediterranean shrub (Cistus monspeliensis): codification and description according to the BBCH scale

Shrubland species are important vegetation component resulting from the degradation of Mediterranean forests due to anthropic activities, and constitute the first step of soil covering process subsequent to disturbances such as fire, grazing and deforestation. They represent interesting case studies for their adaptability to challenging climate and soil conditions, and for their potential use in the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Montpelier Rock-Rose (Cistus monspeliensis) is a shrubland species growing widespread around the Mediterranean Basin. It is a drought semi-deciduous species well adapted to cope to the particularly severe climate conditions of this area. The BBCH scale is widely adopted throughout the world for the description of growth developmental stages of several economically important crops but a detailed description of the phenological growth stages of Montpelier Rock-Rose has never been developed. In this work, the description of the phenological growth stages of Montpelier Rock-Rose according to the BBCH scale was provided. The description is supplemented by images of principal phenological stages. This work might contribute to a better understanding of the life cycles of Mediterranean shrubland species, providing a useful tool for supporting studies on the responses of shrubs to the seasonal changes due to climate warming.