Psychophily and anemochory in wendlandia tinctoria (Roxb.) DC. (Rubiaceae): A dry season blooming tree species in the dry deciduous Southern Eastern Ghats forest,Andhra Pradesh,India

Wendlandia tinctoria,a semi-evergreen hermaphroditic tree species is a massive bloomer for about a month during march-april. the floral characteristics such as white colour of the flower,lack of odour,short-tubed corolla with deep seated hexose-rich nectar having 15-18% sugar concentration conform to psychophily. the nectar is also a source of two essential amino acids,arginine and histidine,and eight non-essential amino acids for butterflies. a variety of butterflies,especially nymphalids visit the flowers for nectar and in doing so,they pollinate them. other foragers include bees,a fly and wasps. wasps are occasional nectar foragers and effect pollination. bees are consistent foragers of pollen and/or nectar. apis bees collect pollen and nectar while trigona and ceratina bees collect only pollen due to the short length of the tongue. the fly is an occasional pollen feeder. the intense pollen collection activity of bees has been considered to be detrimental for the reproductive success of the plant. therefore,w. tinctoria is primarily psychophilous and serves as a key forage source also for other insects at the study site where floral nectar sources are scarce during summer season.