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- Title
Reproductive ecology of Cycas beddomei Dyer (Cycadaceae), an endemic and critically endangered species of southern Eastern Ghats.
- Authors
Solomon Raju, A. J.; Jonathan, K. Henry
- Abstract
Cycas beddomei is an endemic and critically endangered, tropical, dry deciduous, dioecious gymnosperm confined to India. Coning and leaf flushing events occur during April-June. The plant is typically anemophilous and it is highly effective for optimal seed set. In both the sexes, during maturation process the cones show weak thermogenesis and emit mild foetid odour, which apparently do not have any significant role in pollination. Alphitobius beetles use male cones for feeding and breeding during which they get coated with pollen. These beetles in search of other male cones visit female cones by mistake and effect pollination. The female cones offer only warmth to the beetles during night. The beetles diapause on male plants or in the soil until the next coning season. Leaf flushing episode occurs immediately after the maturation of cones in both sexes, to gain the lost energy and also to supply photosynthate for the growing seeds in female plants. The squirrels, Funambulus palmarum and Ratufa indica act as seed dispersal agents. A beetle species uses the seeds for breeding and causes seed infestation to a great extent. The adults that emerge from the seeds diapause in the soil until the next seed season to repeat the next breeding cycle. The study suggests that the restricted participation of plants in the annual coning event, restricted seed dispersal, seed infestation and other factors relating to natural regeneration contribute to the endemic and endangered status of the plant.
- Subjects
EASTERN Ghats (India); INDIA; CYCADACEAE; SEEDS; PHENOLOGY; POLLINATION
- Publication
Current Science (00113891), 2010, Vol 99, Issue 12, p1833
- ISSN
0011-3891
- Publication type
Article