Abstract Detail

Ethnobotany

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Phenology of Elephantopus scaber Linn.

Elephantopus scaber L., belongs to Asteraceae, is a small herb found in Tropical semi-evergreen forests, native to tropical Africa, Eastern Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, as well as habitat factors. Elephantopus scaber Linn., is Cryptophyte, capable of perennating with subterranean rhizome and propagating with seasonally produced seeds. The subterranean rhizome sprouts into leafy shoot during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons and remains dormant during the post monsoon or winter season. Life cycle starts with seed germination in late February and continues till March. Plants generally disappear during December and January. They are facultative sciophyte having a period of vegetative growth from April to July, the grand period being June and July. Flowering period extends from August to October, the optimum period being September and October. Fruiting occurs from late October to November. Seed maturation Starts from November to mid-December. Death starts from late December to January. From about nearly July population of E. scaber gets succeeded by such herbaceous species which are resistant to water logging during the monsoon. This species has wide adaptive amplitude with the ability to undergo certain quantitative and temporary changes in phenotypic expression. Individual encountering desicating stress stresses (in dry habitat) produce smaller leaves shorter flowering escape. Due to long dormant seeds the plant is under threat which it tries to overcome by perennial root-stock. The germination is of epigeal type.

Keywords:
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Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ETH1, Ethnobotany
Location: San Luis 2/Starr Pass
Date: Tuesday, July 30th, 2019
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: ETH1010
Abstract ID:1208
Candidate for Awards:None