Fruit and Seed Phenological studies of Rauvolfia species distributed in the Southern Western Ghats

Bindu S * and Anilkumar C

Seed Bank, Division of Conservation Biology; Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Pacha, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India – 695562.
     
Research Article
International Journal of Life Science Research Updates, 2024, 02(01), 001–008​.
Article DOI: 10.53430/ijlsru.2024.2.1.0021
Publication history: 
Received on 01 February 2024; revised on 15 March 2024; accepted on 18 March
 
Abstract: 
Fruiting pattern of five Rauvolfia species in the southern Western Ghats were observed to get an insight and limitations impacting their fruiting cycles. These species displayed parallel seasonal occurrences in their flowering and fruiting. Over two continuous years, from January to December in 2011 and 2012, monthly observations highlighted discrepancies in the duration of flowering and fruiting, despite the shared seasonal aspects. The peaks and patterns of fruiting varied among these species, demonstrating differences in key factors like fruiting duration, peak times, single/double fruit ratio, and seed purity. Moreover, it was observed that annual precipitation influences the flowering and fruiting behaviors of Rauvolfia.

 

Keywords: 
Phenology; Flowering; Fruiting; Western Ghats; Rainfall
 
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