Rosette leaf size has been found to predict when a plant may enter its second stage of flowering and seed production. Alternatively, under extreme climatic conditions, a biennial plant may complete its life cycle rapidly (e.g., in three months instead of two years). This is quite common in vegetable or flower seedlings that were vernalized before they were planted in the ground.
The size of a rosette leaf can be used to predict the timing of a plant's second stage of flowering and seed production. In certain situations, this process may occur more quickly due to extreme weather conditions, such as in three months instead of two years for biennial plants that have been pre-vernalized before planting.