Tamarind monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

1.4.2 Flowers
Flowers are borne in lax racemes which are few to several flowered (up to
18), borne at the ends of branches and are shorter than the leaves, the lateral
flowers are drooping (Fig. 1.2. See Plate 1).
Flowers are irregular 1.5 cm long and 2-2.5 cm in diameter each with a
pedicel about (5-)6(-10) mm long, nodose and jointed at the apex. Bracts are
ovate-oblong, and early caducous, each bract almost as long as the flower
bud. There are 2 bracteoles, boat shaped, 8 mm long and reddish.
The calyx is (8-)10(-15) mm long with a narrow tube (turbinate) and 4
sepals, unequal, ovate, imbricate, membranous and coloured cream, pale
yellow or pink.
Corolla of 5 petals, the 2 anterior reduced to bristles hidden at the base of the
staminal tube. The 3 upper ones are a little longer than the sepals, 1 posterior
and 2 lateral, these 3 obovate to oblong, imbricate, coloured pale yellow,
cream, pink or white, streaked with red.
Flowers are bisexual. The colour of the flowers is the same on each tree;
they are not mixed. Stamens are 3(-5) fertile and 4 minute sterile ones.
Filaments of fertile stamens are connate and alternate with 6 brittle-like
staminodes. Stamens are united below into a sheath open on the upper side
and inserted on the anterior part of the mouth of the calyx tube. Anthers are
transverse, reddish brown and dehisce longitudinally.
The ovary is superior with few to many (up to 18) ovules. The ovary is borne
on a sheath adnate to the posterior part of the calyx tube. It is stipitate,
curving upwards and is green with a long hooked style with a terminal
subcapitate stigma.
Flowers are protogynous, entomophilous and largely cross-pollinated.
Flowers are nectiferous, nectar being produced by hairs at the ovary base
(Thimaraju et al., 1977; Tucker; 2000). Some self-pollination also occurs
(Coronel 1991).
1.4.3 Fruits and seeds
The fruits are pods 5-10(-16) cm long x 2 cm broad, oblong, curved or
straight, with rounded ends, somewhat compressed and indehiscent although
brittle (Fig. 1.2). The pod has an outer epicarp which is light grey or brown
and scaly. Within is the firm but soft pulp which is thick and blackish brown.
The pulp is traversed by formed seed cavities, which contain the seeds. The
outer surface of the pulp has three tough branched fibres from the base to the
apex (see Plate 2).
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