Anthesis in Indian lemongrass Cymbopogon Flexuosus, stapf

Abstract

Studies were undertaken on the mechanism of anthesis in Indian lemongrass. An inflorescence takes 25 to 32 days for completion of anthosis. The peak period of anthesis is from the 6th day from commencement of anthesis to the 11th day. About 80% of spikes complete anthesis by the 15th day. Anthesis takes place in the morning between 7 and 8.30. !n the sessile spikelets anthesis appears earlier than its appearance in the pedicellate ones. There are four distinct stages in the anthesis of sessile spikelet which take plrce one after the other in quick succession. The most characteristic featrue of anthesis is the slight protogynous nature of the sessile spikelet. Though this is a basic adaptation for cross pollination, the large number of spikeleis opening in a short span of time indicate the possibility for self pollination under field conditions.