i Parkia biglobosa - School of Forest Resources & Environmental ...

Pollination
Bats are the primary pollinators of P. biglobosa. Hopkins (1983) identified and
observed two species of bats that visited P. biglobosa trees and fed from the flowers. A
larger species (forearm length 105-135 mm), Eidolon helvum arrived in the late afternoon
and early evening, embracing the capitulum while feeding on the nectar. Micropteropus
pusillus (forearm length 48 –54 mm) only appeared after dark, flying to and feeding on
several capitula.
Individual trees can flower for approximately a month, however each capitulum
or inflorescence blooms for one night. The initiation of anthesis, the time and expansion
of flower, begins around 1400 and by 1800 the flowers are fully opened. They remain
open throughout the night. The anthers mature and the flowers produce a strong floral
scent. Nectar production begins and accumulates in the basal depression. Bees and
moths have been observed feeding on P. biglobosa, however bats are the apparent and
active pollinators. P. biglobosa possess several characteristics such as easily accessible
flowers, nocturnal anthesis, and high nectar and pollen production typical of other bat-
pollinated species (Pettersson and Knudsen 2001).
Fruit
The fruit or seedpod is the most widely used and economically important part of
the tree. P. biglobosa first fruits after eight to ten years. Typically 20 to 25 pods arise
from a single capitulum (Booth 1988). The pods when young are green, fleshy, and
pliable, and are sometimes eaten by humans after roasting the pods over embers. In
March 2001, on a visit to Mole National Game Park in the Northern Region of Ghana, I
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