When flowering threatens the natural conservation of a species

摘要

Bamboo flowering is a botanical phenomenon and the reasons behind this are still not clearly understood. Bamboos flower only once and die after flowering to regenerate from seeds 1 . Dendrocalamus strictus is one of the important bamboo species in Jharkhand and popularly known as 憀athi bans? Unfortunately, no scientific report is available in the state about bamboo flowering. Recently, the species started flowering in many locations of the state ?Kharsidag and Doranda villages of Ranchi District and Pakur toli, Madhao toli, Bhagima, Kolleng and Marda villages in Palkot block as well as in Sisai block and Bherno block of Gumla District (Figure 1 a). According to local people, the species flowered after about 25 years, which provides an idea about its flowering cycle. This information is useful for growing these seeds to get quality seedlings of this species. Gregarious or sporadic flowering was first observed in the first week of September after the rainy season. Initially there are several young inflorescences and within a few weeks, entire clumps change into enormous inflorescences (Figure 1 b). Seed-shedding started in the last week of December. By the third week of January, there was a thin layer of seeds on the ground below the bamboo groves/stands.