Reproductive Biology and Phenology of Croton scabiosus Bedd. - An Endemic Tree Species of Southern Eastern Ghats of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh

Croton scabiosus Bedd. is an endemic tree species of Southern Eastern Ghats of Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh. In the present study observations were made on reproductive biology and phenology of Croton scabiosus at Idupulapaya reserve forest, Vempalli, Kadapa. The observations on phenological events i. e. leaf initiation, flowering, fruiting and leaf fall were recorded between December 2013 and November 2014. Observations revealed a pattern of two episodes of flowering in the months of January to June and September to October. The peak flowering was observed in the month of March and flower anthesis occurs during morning to evening (0600h to 1800 h). Inflorescence is terminal simple raceme. Male flowers are on the upper portion and female on the lower portion of the inflorescence. Flowers are minute, monochlamydeous and actinomorphic. Floral morphology, breeding systems - geitonogamy and xenogamy, stigma receptivity, pollen output per anther/flower, pollen ovule ratio and fruit set percentage were recorded.