What are Ephemerals?
Plant that has several life cycles in a growing season and can increase in numbers rapidly. In addition to these plants, wait throughout the year to bloom only during the monsoon.
Two Types of Ephemerals,
Annual Ephemerals - Forms new individuals every year and are seen for a very short period.
They form seeds at the end of their life cycle, remaining dormant till the next year.
Perennial Ephemerals - have a source like a tuber or a bulb in the soil, so it is the same individual, but the other parts (stem, flowers) are newly formed.
Blooming period of Ephemerals,
Monsoon ephemerals bloom towards the end of May and throughout June, July, August, and September.
Role of Ephemeral flowers,
The primary job of these flowers is to act as an important source of Nectar and Pollen for native pollinators.
Their presence in all micro habitats on a plateau ensures the appropriate presence of Soil and Water.
Names of some important Ephemeral flowers.
Monsoon brings - Nervilia and Eulophia (Orchids), lilies (crinum lily, pancratium lily, grass lily, star lily), wild yam (suran), and Indian squill.
In the Late Monsoon - Ground orchids (Habenaria and Peristylus), several types of balsams, hill meadow rue, Dipcadi species, spider-flowers (Corynandra), pond-weeds (Aponogeton), lantern flowers (Ceropegia), bladderworts (Utricularia), pipeworts (Eriocaulon), and species of grasses.
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