Reproductive ecology of the semi-evergreen tree Vitex negundo (Lamiaceae)

• Autores: B. Dileepu Kumar, D. Sandhya Deepika, A.J. Solomon Raju
• Localización: Phytologia Balcanica: International Journal of Balkan Flora and Vegetation, ISSN 1310-7771, Vol. 23, Nº. 1, 2017, págs. 39-53
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Vitex negundo is a small aromatic semi-evergreen tree often cultivated as an ornamental plant. It sheds foliage and produces new foliage almost simultaneously in December-April and flowers in June-November. The flowers are homogamous, herkogamous, self-compatible and exhibit a facultative xenogamous breeding system. They are bi-labiate, gullet type and are pollinated nototribically by bees, wasps and butterflies, while collecting nectar, and also by bees, which pollinate it sternotribically, while collecting pollen. Trigona bee is the primary nectar robber, because it bores holes at the base of the corolla tube to collect nectar. Other bees and wasps are principally legitimate foragers, but they collect nectar illegitimately, if they happen to reach the hole in the corolla tube made by Trigona. Nectar robbing by Trigona indirectly increases the pollen dispersal distance by pollinators and promotes outcrossing rate in this tree. Fruits are non-fleshy and disperse by gravity, and subsequently become hydrochorous and anthropochorous. The seeds did not germinate naturally during the study period and, hence, detailed studies on seed dormancy and seed viability are suggested to understand the seed biology. V. negundo is grown commercially as a crop in certain parts of the world and for ornamental purposes in parks, gardens and the backyards of houses both in urban and rural areas. Therefore, the reproductive biology information reported now is useful to understand the various aspects of its sexual reproduction and, accordingly, to take measures for the protection of its pollinator fauna for the production of genetically superior seeds in natural areas. Finally, it is suggested that V. negundo should be used