Phenological studies of Calophyllum apetalum Willd., an economically important medicinal tree of Western Ghats

Abstract

Calophyllum apetalum Willd., commonly called Poonspar of Travancore, is a multipurpose evergreen tree endemic to the Western Ghats of India. For phenology studies, individual trees were tagged and their vegetative and reproductive phases have been monitored from 2021 to 2023. The leafing phenophase - simultaneous flushing and leaf fall before the onset of rain - makes C. apetalum trees appear to be always leafy. Leafing, flowering and fruiting phenophases were significantly seasonal. Leaf flushing to flowering takes time and also from flowering to fruiting. Peak flowering is visible from September to October, fruiting maturity occurs in January. Phenological events may vary according to region as well. As with flowering the phenology of fruiting is governed by its own set of constraints. Phenological studies are essential for developing appropriate conservation strategies and to assist adequate germplasm collections since it is necessary to know the baseline data on their flowering and fruiting behavior.