. Floral biology of Impatiens trichocarpa Hook. f., (Balsaminaceae) an endemic Balsam of Western Ghats

S  K  Kulloli; A  K  Sreekala and A  G  Pandurangan nbsp    nbsp

doi:10.17485/ijst/2009/v2i2.16

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. Floral biology of Impatiens trichocarpa Hook. f., (Balsaminaceae) an endemic Balsam of Western Ghats

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Indian Journal of Science and Technology

DOI: 10.17485/ijst/2009/v2i2.16

Year: 2009, Volume: 2, Issue: 2, Pages: 30-34

Original Article

. Floral biology of Impatiens trichocarpa Hook. f., (Balsaminaceae) an endemic Balsam of Western Ghats

S. K. Kulloli^*, A. K. Sreekala and A. G. Pandurangan

Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode-695 562 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

*Author for the correspondence:
S. K. Kulloli
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute
Palode-695 562 Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
E-mail: [email protected]

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Floral biology of Impatiens trichocarpa, an endemic and horticulturally promising balsam from Western Ghats, has been conducted. It flowers during July to November with optimum flowering in the month of September. Anthesis occurred in the night time between 0200 to 0300h and dehisced one day before anthesis. Pollen grains are spherical, light yellow in colour and 32.72µm in diameter. The maximum percentage of stigma receptivity (82%) observed on the day of anthesis. Bees, flies and butterflies forage at the flowers; but bees serve a better pollinator. Nectar production begins soon after anthesis and continues through flower life. The seed germination was limited to 35% which may be one of the reasons for its restricted distribution.

Keywords: Anthesis, floral biology, Impatiens trichocarpa, stigma receptivity, Western Ghats.