VARIATION IN FLOWERING PHENOLOGY OF CASSIA FISTULA LINN. POPULATION IN OTA, OGUN STATE. NIGERIA
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Description
Flowering phenology in the population of Cassia fistula Linn. at Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated for
three years to determine if there was variation in the phenology and the patterns were compared with some
environmental factors to determine if there was any correlation. The number of plants flowering each month
was monitored for three years. Data for mean monthly maximum and minimum temperatures, mean monthly
rainfall and number of days with rain per month were obtained from Meteorological Institute, Oshodi, Lagos-
Nigeria. In each year, there was synchronous flowering showing early and late flowering plants but the start and
end of flowering vary between years. The peak months of flowering vary from year to year so also the period of
flowering. Statistical analysis showed significant difference in flowering pattern between two of the years and
from month to month. All these show clear variation in the flowering phenology of the species. Commencement
of flowering was correlated with the rainfall and temperature in July and August while the end was correlated
with the amount of rainfall and number of rainy days. With the overlap of flowering between the years, flowering
is continuous in contrast to annual flowering in its country of origin; a phenomenon that has not been reported
for the species before. The ecological implication was discussed
Keywords
Q Science (General), QH301 Biology