Reproductive Phenology, Seasonality of Canopy and Understorey Trees in a Tropical Evergreen Forest

Phenology and seasonality of topical evergreen forest tree species (> 30 cm girth at breast height) of Kemmanugundi, Karnataka was studied. Tree species were identified and tagged with a number of approximately five km single transect comprising 177 individuals. Observations at community level were made at monthly intervals from June 2004 to May 2006 for flowering and fruiting phenophases in various tree species. At community level, initiation of flower bud was observed during November and January, pollination in December (winter). Fruit bud initiated during January (winter) and April (summer). Fruit ripened from January (winter)-April (summer) and in July (rainy). Fruit falling was recorded in June (rainy) and March (summer) with a major and minor peak. Rainfall had significant negative influence on reproductive phenologies. Flower initiation and pollinated flower had strong seasonality in canopy and understorey trees. Fruit initiation and fruit fall had same seasonality in canopy and fruit initiation in under storey trees.