Phenological Pattern of Sterculia villosa Roxb. ex Sm., A Lesser Known and Threatened Tree Species in the Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest

Abstract

The present trial was carried out with the objective to study the phenological pattern and the relation of weather parameters with phenophases of Sterculia villosa Roxb. ex Sm., distributed at Panas medicinal plot in tropical moist deciduous forest, during the year 2022 and 2023. Trees with distinctive crown having more than 10 cm DBH were selected by following selective sampling method. Different phenophases (leaf fall, leaf renewal, flowering, fruiting and fruit falling) were observed fortnightly for two years. In the vegetative phenology, S. villosa, leaf fall started in the month of November and continued till the first half of February month about 14 weeks. Likewise, leaf renewal period was noticed 10 weeks in the months of the second half of May to July. Leafless period of S. villosa, was noticed from the second half of February to the first half of May with a duration of 12 weeks in leafless condition. In reproductive phenological events, flowering initiation was recorded for 8 weeks which started from second half of January to first half of March; whereas, fruiting period was noticed from first half of March to first half of April with 6 weeks duration. Further, fruit fall occurred during April and May with a duration of 8 weeks. Weather parameters showed significant correlation with phenophases of S. villosa, Temperature showed the negative correlation with leaf fall, fritting and fruit fall; however positively related with leaf renewal. Rainfall and relative humidity both negatively related with leaf renewal, fruiting and fruit fall phenophases of S. villosa.