Interpretation of metameric architecture in dominant shrubs of the Chilean matorral.

The seasonal progression of phenophases in 21 shrub species of the Chilean matorral was analyzed. Five "modules" or basic units that are responsible for the aboveground architecture of the plants were characterized. These modules appear to be organized in seven different spatial arrangements. In drought-deciduous species a module type with an "absolute short shoot" with limited apical growth, leafy or spiny, predominated. In evergreen species "long shoot" and "temporal leafy short shoot" module types were more frequent. The spatial arrangement of morphologically different modules and the temporal sequence of their formation allow a dynamic interpretation of the modular architecture of the plants.