FLORAL AND PHENOLOGICAL STUDIES ON OROXYLUM INDICUM IN SIKKIM

Impact of some environmental factors on floral phenology and reproductive biology of Oroxylum indicum (Bignoniaceae) growing in Sikkim has been observed in the present study. The species flowers from July to third week of August and later after one month, produces well developed fruits with containing numerous papery, flat, winged light seeds. An average production of flower was observed to be 524.15±120.11 (X?±SD, n=13) however, fruit production was only 11.61±4.99 (X?±SD, n=13). Profuse fruiting takes place when the average temperature ranges between 18.64-23.29oC and average relative humidity sustains around 70%. The study revealsa direct impact of environmental factors on the efficiency of pollinator too.