Effect of habitat preference and climatic conditions on the flower dynamics of Valeriana jatamansi Jones - a critically endangered medicinal plant of Kashmir Himalaya.

摘要

Valeriana jatamansi Jones syn. Valeriana wallichii, popularly known as Indian valerian, is a critically endangered medicinal plant of North West Himalaya. Valeriana jatamansi is gynodiocious, with bisexual and female plants that grow sympatrically at the same location. These two plant types can be segregated only during flowering phase as flowering axis is seasonal. V. jatamansi is highly adaptable to environmental, habitat and growth developmental changes that is reflected in the leaf shape and flower dynamics. The plant delimits the fatal effects of temperature by adapting to a unique pollination mechanism to facilitate survival. Three factors have been observed to play a role in inducing this unique pollination mechanism. This is either induced due to adaptation to basic climate or due to shift from hermaphrodiotism to dioecy or there may be genetic control. During the present investigation we have assessed the various factors that influence the reproductive cycle and habitat adaptability of this medicinal herb.