Bloom Clock/Editing BCP Pages

All plants logged on the bloom clock should have a BCP page ("Bloom Clock Profile"). These pages consist of three templates: a top template with general information and a link to the log page (this is the only part of the profile that appears on the keys), a middle template with regional data and additional photos, and a bottom template that contains the dichotomous categories used to create keys.

Creating new BCP pages
When creating new pages, first add an entry and link to Bloom Clock/Master List using (for example,  ). This will create a red link to the proper location of the log page.


 * Notes:
 * If you are creating a general page about a genus, just use the genus name (not, e.g., Genus sp.).
 * If there is no common name you know of, or the common name is the same as the scientific name, just use the scientific name (e.g. )
 * If you are creating a variety page, use either "Genus 'Variety'" or "Genus species 'Variety'" (e.g. Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' or Cercis 'Forest Pansy' )

Next, create the BCP page using Scientific Name (for example, Taraxacum officinale ), which will add the 3 templates to the page, as well as the noinclude tags and the top instruction box for creating the log page. (For genus/variety profiles, see notes above).

Follow the instructions for log page creation (the template text and a link to the page are provided in the box). If you saw the plant today or in the last few days, sign it under "recent logs" using *~ (this will show up on the profile page as well). Then go back to the Profile and start filling in the template.

Finally, fix the profile page by removing the box at the top (removing everything above the section break line that has 4 dashes), and at least fill in the following fields on the bottom template (see below for why templates are required for some fields):
 * 1) Answer the taxa level using either "genus", "species", or "variety" (use no caps)
 * 2) Answer the color field using templates: e.g., for white flowers, use, or for a plant that can have either white or purple flowers use   (use no commas, please), and add all the possible colors (the options are all listed on that line).
 * 3) Answer the "type" field using, , , and/or (no commas please... add all that apply: genus profiles may often contain more than one type!)
 * 4) Fill in the genus name (this helps keep track of things).

See below for how to answer the rest of the template fields.

Filling out the top template
The top template has a number of fields that are for display on the keys. All fields are optional save the scientific name (which is needed to ensure inclusion of the log page).


 * main image: Add an image to the Profile using an image file from Wikimedia Commons. Don't include the "Image:" prefix.
 * main image caption: Add a caption to the image using plain text or wikilinks.
 * Habit: A general description of how the plant grows.
 * Flower Structure: A description of the flowers including color, shape, where they are held on the plant, etc.
 * Foliage: A description of the leaves
 * Stem: A description of the stem (shape, color, flexibility, etc.)
 * Scent: Describe the scent, if any
 * Growing conditions: Describe the natural and/or horticultural conditions where the plant is found (e.g., sun or shade, wet or dry soils, etc.)
 * Fruit: describe the fruit
 * Life Cycle: Describe the life cycle (perennial, annual, biennial, etc.)
 * Similar Plants: List (using links) any plants that might be easily confused with this plant
 * Included Subclasses: List any plants whose logs should be taken into consideration when determining regional and global bloom times (for example, logs of BCP/Rosa multiflora will affect the bloom time of BCP/Rosa).
 * Global temperate seasons: Answered using templates for regional data that has been matched to the global-temperate keys (see Bloom Clock/Keys/Global/Temperate for details).

Filling out the middle template
The middle template includes regional data fields as well as optional images. Regional data is entered using templates designed for the purpose.


 * image and image caption fields: The upper fields can be used for optional additional images
 * Regional fields: for adding templates for defined regions. When a region is "assigned", you will recieve a link to the instructions.

Please don't add new fields! New fields are added by a bot. Request new regions on Talk:Bloom Clock.

Filling out the bottom template
The bottom template has a mix of dichotomous and non-dichotomous options. For the non-dichotomous options, please make sure to use the templates, as described below. Templates are used due to the troubles that would be caused by having to design the template to accept all permutations of possible answers (imagine the number of possible permutations for color!). Some of the non-dichotomous fields may soon be replaced by dichotomous options for ease of editing.


 * taxa level: this is a fully dichotomous field. Answer either genus, species, or variety
 * flower color: a non-dichotomous field (templates required). Answer using, etc. Enter as many colors as might be found in this particular taxa. For in-between colors (greenish-yellow, etc.), answer using both colors (e.g.   ). Please don't use commas.
 * calendar season: May be removed soon. Non-dichotomous (templates required)... use  etc.
 * pollination: Will be replaced soon, please don't fill out
 * type: non-dichotomous (templates required). Answer using, , , and/or (all that may apply to the taxa).
 * family: A plain text field. Answer using the family name, capitalizing the first letter
 * genus: A plain text field. Answer using the genus name, capitalizing the first letter. Please do include the genus here for genus profiles!
 * armed: answer with a lower case "y" if the plant has thorns or spines
 * leaf complexity: a dichotomous field, please answer only with the options provided (no caps!)
 * leaf arrangement: a dichotomous field, please answer only with the options provided (no caps!)
 * leaves absent while flowering: answer with a lower case "y" is flowers may be present before the leaves
 * lobes: a dichotomous field, please answer only with the options provided (no caps!)
 * deciduous/evergreen/semi-evergreen: a dichotomous field, please answer only with the options provided (no caps!)
 * petiolate/sessile: a dichotomous field, please answer only with the options provided (no caps!)