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