Terrestrial Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network

Using a 20-year data set to examine the roll of rainfall in flowering phenology in an arid region of south-western USA, this study  indicates that triggers for the onset of flowering differ at high and low altitude. The authors also document a delay in flowering in 10% of their study species over the study period , and suggest this is related to reduced rainfall.

Crimmins et al. (2010). Complex responses to climate drivers in onset of spring flowering across a semi-arid elevation gradient.  Journal of Ecology 98: 1042-1051. DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01696.x