Floral biology and pollination behaviour of Gloriosa rothschildiana

Abstract

The flowers of Gloriosa rothschildiana were borne on a short pedicel (7.73 cm) and were solitary. The flower size was small (1.60 g). There were six small crimson colored tepals (3.60 x 1.45 cm) with short stamen (3.34 cm) and pistil (3.39 cm). The stamen displayed profuse orange-yellow pollen. The pistil possessed three celled ovary which formed an ellipsoidal capsule. The mean number of days taken for completion of flowering phases was 20.70 days for G. rothschildiana. The percentage of bud opening and anther dehiscence in G. rothschildiana was maximum at 9.30 am. The percentage of stigma receptivity, pollen viability and fertility were maximum on the day of anthesis. Pollens were oval shaped and the pollen output was minimum in G. rothschildiana. The highest pod set was observed under artificial cross pollination followed by self-pollination and natural open pollination.