H. Malleshappa , P. Selva Singh Richard

Abstract

The present study is a preliminary work highlighting the floral biology of Psychotria nilgiriensis var. astephana (Hook. f.) Deb et Gang., where the floral characters such as the floral type, shape symmetry, colour, pollen morphology, pollen production, pollen - ovule ratio were studied. The flowers received 22 species of insects as diurnal floral visitors, predominantly butterflies (11 species) followed by bees (4 species), Flies (3 species), Ants (2 species), wasp and beetle (1 species each). Apis cerana, Appias wardi, Ypthima sp. and a species of wasp accounted for highest percentage of total visits to the blossoms. The most favourable temperature range with diverse community of floral visitors and maximum floral visits was between 25°C and 32°C. Observations based on the foraging behaviour of floral visitors as well as the number of visits shows that Appias wardi, Ypthima sp., wasp, Apiscerana and Lasioglossum sp. presumably the important pollinators of P. nilgiriensis var. astephana.

Keywords

Psychotria, Floral Reward, Floral Visitor, Pollinator

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P. Selva Singh Richard , S. Abraham Muthukumar , H. Malleshappa

Abstract

Diurnal floral visitors of 27 woody Angiosperms wet'e observed from Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Southern Western Ghats, Tirunelveli District, between 2008 and 2010. The foraging profiles of floral visitors as well as the flower characters were analysed. It was found that although visitor profiles were sometimes consistent with classic pollination syndromes, these syndromes were unreliable predictors of floral visitors. The majority of flowering plants was unspecialized in their morphology, and consequently hosted a diverse array of visitors. Bees being the potential pollinators visited species with purple or pink flowers that are not strictly confirm to the melittophilous syndrome. Bright coloured, tubular flowers were associated with birds, with more accessible nectar. Ants were noted as nectar thieves in some plants. Altitude was a major factor in determining visitors, with flies being the most abundant visitors of m any plant species, while others received very few potential pollen vectors.

Keywords

KMTR, Trees, Floml Reward, Floral ViSitor, Pollinator

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H. Malleshappa

Abstract

Based on the floristic survey conducted, Decalepis arayalpathra (Joseph & Chandras.) Vent., an endemic and endangered species of southern Western Ghats found to be distributed in (1) near Vellachipudavu, on the way to Aduppukal mottai, (2) Oothu, above Amman kovil, (3) Visthara mottai, above Naraikadu and (4) Thaipatham mottai, above Nambi Koil of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. A total of 932 individuals were recorded from the sample plots established in these four sites. Among these more number of individuals were recorded from Thaipatham followed by Visthara mottai, Vellachipudavu and Oothu. Many populations of this species were also sighted in the inaccessible areas of Thaipatham and Vellachipudavu. Asparagus gonocladus, Eriocaulon ensiforme, Exacum atropurpureum, Hedyotis purpurascens, Osbeckia wightiana etc. are some of the associated species of D. arayalpathra. The tubers of this species are found to be eaten up by wild boars at Vellachipudavu. Though there are many individuals recorded, the populations are still limited and fragmented extensively. The lag in the regeneration as well as continuous harvest of tubers for medicinal use leads to the drastic reduction in the population size of this species.

Keywords

Decalepis arayalpathra, Endemic, Distribution, Population, KMTR

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P. Selva Singh Richard ¹, S. Abraham Muthukumar ², H. Malleshappa ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Madras Christian College, Chennai - 600 059, IN
2 Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, St. John's College, Tirunelveli - 627 002, IN
3 Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai - 600 015, IN

Abstract

Pollen analysis of four honey samples (IK, KH, KK and TP) from Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) was undertaken to determine the floral source and to identify the pollen types in order to find the ecological origin of honey sample. The honey samples were collected from the honey comb remnants of Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Trigona iridipennis honey bee species during 2008 - 2010 at different locations of Mundanthurai Range, KMTR. A total of 26 pollen types belonging to 21 angiosperm families and one gymnosperm family (Gnetaceae) were identified. The most commonly represented pollen types in the honey samples are Mallotus, Syzygium and Trema. The occurrence of semievergreen and wet evergreen pollen types in the honey samples such as Calophyllum, Elaeocarpus, Gnetum, Myristica and Strobilanthes determine the ecological origin of the honey.

Keywords

Melissopalynology, Honey, Pollen Analysis, KMTR

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