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- Title
Anemophily, accidental cantharophily, seed dispersal and seedling ecology of Cycas sphaerica Roxb. (Cycadaceae), a data-deficient red-listed species of northern Eastern Ghats.
- Authors
Solomon Raju, A. J.; Jonathan, K. Henry
- Abstract
Cycas sphaerica is a data-deficient, red-listed, tropical dry deciduous dioecious shrub species confined to the northern Eastern Ghats of India. It reproduces asexually and sexually. In asexual mode, bulbils arise as offshoots of the stem and produce new branches or new plants. In sexual mode, a small number of plants participate in the coning event during March-May. The plant sex ratio is strongly male-biased. The plant is typically anemophilous and effective for optimal seed set. The cones of both sexes show strong thermogenesis and odour production during the maturation process; these two processes attract Derelomus weevils which use male cones for feeding and breeding during which they get covered with pollen. These weevils in search of other male cones also visit female cones and effect pollination accidentally. The female cones only offer warmth to the weevils during night. The weevils diapause on male plants until the next coning season. Spotted deer (Axis axis), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) and rainwater disperse seeds. Seeds are not dormant. Natural regeneration through sexual and asexual means is poor, which could be due to seed predation, inability of the germinating seeds and growing seedlings to compete well with the seasonal plants and grasses for the available nutrients in the soil and litter, and erratic rainfall or dry spells within the rainy season. Further, the traditional uses of this plant also contribute to the restricted population size. Therefore, concrete measures are required for the effective conservation and management of C. sphaerica.
- Subjects
INDIA; CYCAS; SEED ecology; SHRUBS; PLANT fertilization
- Publication
Current Science (00113891), 2010, Vol 99, Issue 8, p1105
- ISSN
0011-3891
- Publication type
Article