Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2014 | 6(2): 5434–5446 Monoecy, anemophily, anemochory and regeneration ecology Communication of Hildegardia populifolia (Roxb.) Schott. & Endl. (Malvaceae), ISSN an economically important endemic and endangered dry Online 0974–7907 Print 0974–7893 deciduous tree species of southern Eastern Ghats, India OPEN ACCESS A.J. Solomon Raju 1, P. Hareesh Chandra 2 & J. Radha Krishna 3 1,2,3 Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, India 1
[email protected] (corresponding author), 2
[email protected], 3
[email protected] Abstract: Hildegardia populifolia is a critically endangered tree species. All phenological events—leaf flushing, shedding, flowering, fruit dispersal occur one after the other during the dry season. It is morphologically andromonoecious but functionally monoecious. It produces a strikingly male-biased male and bisexual flower ratio; it is self-incompatible and obligately outcrossing. The flowers are nectariferous and the nectar has hexose-rich sugars, some essential and non-essential amino acids. Trigona bee and Rhynchium wasp were the exclusive foragers, though their foraging activity does not promote cross-pollination. The male flower number, the pollen output, the pollen characteristics and the placement of anthers on the top of androphore conform to anemophily. The natural fruit set does not exceed 5%. The fruit is 5-follicled with one or two seeds. The low fruit set is compensated by the production of more 2-seeded follicles. Fruit characteristics such as wing- like follicles, membranous follicle sheath and being very light weight characterize anemochory. Seeds with a hard coat do not germinate readily during the rainy season and their germination depends on the soil chemicals and nutrient environment.