Bat Pollination in medicinally important Cochlospermum religiosum

Abstract

Detailed studies were carried out on the Phenology, floral biology, pollination and breeding system of Cochlospermum religiosum (L) Alston. The main flowering season is between February-April. The flowers were large, yellow, butter cup shaped, growing up to 10cm and  with bright orange- yellow shaped stamen. The flowers were opens at night pollen grains were spherical, tricolpate and maximum pollen viability at 20.00hrs. The stigma is dry type and receptive between 16.00hr-24.00hrs. The Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus forages at night as small groups in C. religiosum. The maximum foraging activity between 18.00 hrs-20.00hrs. While the flying foxes land on the inflorescence and feed on flower resources, the pollen grains stuck on spur. From this study we found that P. giagnteus is the most efficient pollinator of C. religiosum.