Abstract Detail

Ecological Section

Shonubi, Olusola [1], Okusanya, Olubukanla [2], Babalola, Sadat [3].

Prodigal nature in the reproduction of Cassia fistula Linn. population from South West Nigeria..

Cassia fistula Linn. also called Indian Laburnum, is a pan-tropical tree with large, showy, golden-yellow flowers that develop on maturity into long brownish-black pods containing many glabrous seeds that do not germinate readily unless scarified. The quantitative aspect of its flowering and fruiting in the population at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria was studied between August 2012 and June 2013. Five hundred raceme inflorescences, ten each from 50 trees were investigated. The number of flowers per raceme inflorescence and the number of pods produced by the flowers in the raceme were monitored. The results showed that one raceme inflorescence produced an average of 84 flowers and an average of 2.4 pods; thus it takes an average of 35 flowers to produce one pod. About 7.4% of the inflorescence produced no pod, 25% produced one pod, 34% produced two pods and the percentage decreased as the number of pods produced increased to the maximum 6 pods produced by only 3% of the inflorescence. Seventy four percent of the pods produced were from flowers in the middle portion of the raceme, 14% and 12% were from the distal and front portions respectively. When these results are considered along with the poor natural seed germination of the species, it becomes clear that the species wastes so much resource/expends so much energy on low reproduction and procreation. However, whatever disadvantage the species has with the seeming prodigal nature in reproduction and procreation, it makes up for it as an ornamental plant with the golden-yellow flowers and as a medicinal plant; both attributes make humans to cultivate and nurture the species thus supplementing/augmenting the prodigal reproduction and procreation.

1 - University of Lagos, Department of Botany, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
2 - Covenant University , Department of Biological sciences, Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Ota, Ogun State, SW, Nigeria
3 - University Of Lagos, Botany, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, 100213, Nigeria

Keywords:
Cassia fistula
Inflorescence
Fruiting
Ornamental.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 52
Location: Salon 6/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2015
Time: 4:00 PM
Number: 52009
Abstract ID:93
Candidate for Awards:None