FLOWERING AND FLOWER MORPHOLOGY OF PLANTS IN THE DRY- EVERGREEN FOREST AT SAKAERAT ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH STATION, THAILAND

Abstract

The research on flowering and flower morphology of plants in the dry - evergreen forest was carried out at Sakaerat Evironmental Research Station, Amploe Pak Thong - Chai, Nakorn - Rachasrima Province. The data were obtained from a 1 sqare kilometer permanent plot. Ten sampling stripes, 1 kilometer long and 100 meters apart were made to be surveying lines. All species flowered at that time were recorded along the sampling stripes and the flowers were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol for further investigation on flower characteristics. It was found that 149 species out of 200 species giving flowers in 1 year period. A large number of species produced flowers during February and April when temperature was rising up from low temperature in the winter and rain has just started. In the winter, during November and December, smaller number of plants have given flowers. More than 50% of flowering plant species observed here belonged to shrub and climber. But only 12 species of the upper layer or 8% of the total species observed presented flowers. The flowers produced mostly have the following flower morphology: tubular calyx with separated lobes, separated petals, rounded stigma, stigmas under anthers, superior ovary and axile placentration. These flower morphological characteristics could be used to indicate the types and characteristics of pollinators.