Pollination Ecology of Rhynchosia minima (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) in the Southern Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India

Rhynchosia minima is prostrate climbing herb. In India it flowers during September-March with peak flowering during January. The flowers are hermaphroditic, nectariferous, self-compatible and have explosive pollination mechanism adapted for pollination by bees. They do not fruit through autonomous selfing but fruit through manipulated selfing, geitonogamy and xenogamy mediated by pollen vectoring bees. The flowers not visited by bees fall off while those visited and pollinated by them set fruit. Seed dispersal occurs by explosive pod dehiscence. Perennial root stock resurrects back to life during rainy season. Seeds also germinate at the same time but their continued growth is subject to the availability of soil moisture content. Therefore, R. minima expands its population size and succeeds as a weed in water-saturated habitats only. The plant is used as medicine, animal forage and human food and hence it has the potential for exploitation commercially.